U.S. prosecutors have revealed details of an expanding international romance fraud crackdown involving several Ghanaian nationals accused or convicted in schemes targeting elderly Americans, with courts ordering millions of dollars in restitution payments.
The latest case, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio in a press release on Thursday May 14,2026, involves two Ghanaian brothers, Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, and a U.S.-based woman, Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, who were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
According to investigators, the suspects allegedly used fake identities on dating websites and social media platforms to establish romantic relationships with victims before convincing them to send money through wire transfers.
Authorities say the alleged scheme operated between July 2024 and April 2026, with funds reportedly transferred through accounts linked to conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.
The Justice Department disclosed that the case is one of several related prosecutions tied to Ghanaian fraud networks. Nine defendants connected to similar scams have already pleaded guilty and received a combined prison sentence of nearly 50 years.
Among those previously sentenced is Otuo Amponsah, who received 108 months in prison and was ordered to pay $3.3 million in restitution. Portia Joe was sentenced to 51 months and ordered to pay $2 million, while Anna Amponsah also received 108 months with a restitution order of $1.4 million.
Ghanaian national Dwayne Asafo Adjei was sentenced to 71 months in prison and ordered to pay $372,943. Hannah Adom received 71 months and was ordered to pay $278,894.
In another related case, Nancy Adom was ordered to pay over $1 million in restitution, while Eric Aidoo was directed to pay $668,228 after both received 71-month prison sentences. Nader Wasif, convicted of obstruction of justice, was ordered to pay $172,644.
The FBI Cleveland Division led the investigations with support from several Ghanaian institutions, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Cyber Security Authority, and the Financial Intelligence Centre.
U.S. authorities say the prosecutions are part of the Elder Justice Initiative, a programme focused on combating financial exploitation and scams targeting elderly people.
The Department of Justice stressed that the latest indictment remains an allegation and all accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
CREDIT: Mavis Fantevi
