Two brothers from Ghana and a woman from the US have been indicted for allegedly being a part of a criminal network that devised romance fraud schemes to obtain money from victims by mostly targeting the elderly in the United States.
An indictment was recently unsealed in United States v. Jamal Abubakari, et al., charging the following three individuals with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering: Jamal Abubakari, aka Jamal Abubakar, aka Arrangement, 22, Kamal Abubakari, aka Kamal Abubakar, aka Lancaster, 22, and
Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, aka Amanda Joy Glum, aka Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, 53.
All three defendants were arrested in Virginia and remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
According to allegations in the indictment, from about July 2024 to April 2026, the defendants targeted older Americans on dating websites and social media platforms to engage in romance fraud schemes.
The defendants conspired with others to use fake personas to establish close personal relationships with the victims which were often romantic in nature.
After being misled by false stories, the victims sent money via wire transfer to financial accounts controlled by conspiracy members. Portions of the funds were further provided to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.
A series of cases related to this matter, which have also charged conspiracies tied to Ghana for targeting elderly victims, have been assigned to one U.S. District Judge to coordinate proceedings.
While many defendants in those matters are pending trial or sentencing, nine defendants have already pleaded guilty and been collectively sentenced to approximately 50 years of imprisonment.
In United States v. Frederick Kumi, aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, aka Abu Trica, and Daniel Yussif, aka Denteni, aka Slab, Kumi, 31, of Swedru, Ghana, and Yussif, 31, of Accra, Ghana, were charged in December 2025 with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy.
In United States v. David Onyinye Abuanekwu, et al., the defendants below are currently serving prison sentences after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy:
- Dwayne Asafo Adjei, 29, a citizen of Ghana, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $372,943 in restitution.
- Nancy Adom, 30, of Akron and Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $1,079,559 in restitution.
- Eric Aidoo, 46, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $668,228 in restitution.
The defendant below is currently serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to Obstruction of Justice:
- Nader Wasif, 31, of Brentwood, Tennessee, was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment; one year of supervised release; and ordered to pay $172,644 in restitution.
Additionally, Kelvin Asmah, 28, a citizen of Ghana, was recently arrested after being charged in a second superseding indictment.
In United States v. Otuo Amponsah, et al., the defendants below are currently serving prison sentences after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy:
- Otuo Amponsah 34, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $3,324,675 in restitution.
- Portia Joe 28, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment; three years supervised release; and ordered to pay $2,035,438 in restitution.
- Anna Amponsah 35, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $1,444,639 in restitution.
- Dwayne Asafo Adjei, 29, a citizen of Ghana, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $372,943 in restitution. This will run concurrent to the sentence from U.S. v. Abuanekwu et al.
- Hannah Adom, 27, of Akron and Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $278,894 in restitution.
- Defendant Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, 37, of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including prior criminal records, if any, roles in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.
The investigation leading to the indictments was led by the FBI Cleveland Division.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer would like to acknowledge international and national partners for their valuable assistance in this matter: Ghana Attorney General’s Office, EOCO – Economic Organised Crime Office, GPS – Ghana Police Service, Ghana Cyber Security Authority, NACOC – Ghana Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Intelligence Bureau, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Department of State, FBI Washington Field Office, FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Elliot Morrison are leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This investigation and prosecution are in response to the Elder Justice Initiative Program originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The mission of the EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the nation’s elderly population.