Jamal and Kamal Abubakari plead guilty to $9m US romance fraud

Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, 22-year-old twin brothers from Ghana, have pleaded guilty in a United States federal court to wire fraud charges for their involvement in a major romance scam. The scheme, which operated between July 2024 and April 2026, defrauded older Americans of more than $9 million. Appearing before the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the brothers admitted to orchestrating an international criminal network alongside a third defendant, Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, who also entered a guilty plea.

The fraudulent operation relied on the creation of sophisticated false identities on various online dating platforms to deceive victims across at least 25 states. The brothers, also known by the aliases "Arrangement" and "Lancaster," built trust with their targets before soliciting significant sums of money under false pretenses. According to court documents unsealed in late October 2026, the illicit proceeds were funneled through a complex web of accounts and eventually transferred abroad. The investigation highlighted that the syndicate specifically targeted older women, exploiting their search for companionship for financial gain.

This prosecution is a result of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, which focuses on protecting senior citizens from financial exploitation. The case involved collaboration between U.S. federal authorities and several Ghanaian agencies, reflecting an intensified international effort to dismantle cyber-fraud networks. Following their guilty pleas entered on October 13, 2026, the Abubakari brothers each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for February 2027, where a federal district court judge will determine their final punishment.