Ghanaian twins face 20 years in US prison after admitting role in US$9m romance scam

Two Ghanaian twin brothers, Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, have pleaded guilty in the United States to their involvement in an international online romance fraud scheme that caused victims to lose more than US$9 million.

The 22-year-old brothers, popularly known as Arrangement and Lancaster, admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before a United States federal court on October 13, 2026.

Their guilty pleas were confirmed in a statement issued by the United States Department of Justice on Monday, October 26, 2026.

A third individual, Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, a 53-year-old American woman from Hawaii, also pleaded guilty to the same offence on October 20, 2026.

All three now face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison each, with their actual sentences to be determined by a federal judge.

How the US$9 million romance fraud operated

According to the US Department of Justice, the three individuals were part of a criminal network that targeted unsuspecting people, particularly older Americans, through online dating platforms and social media.

The fraudulent activities took place between July 2024 and April 2026.

Members of the network allegedly created fictitious identities and used them to establish personal relationships with their victims, often convincing them that they were involved in genuine romantic relationships.

After gaining their trust, the fraudsters reportedly introduced fabricated stories designed to persuade the victims to send money.

The victims subsequently transferred funds into bank accounts controlled by members of the criminal network.

Investigators established that portions of the money were transferred to other individuals involved in the scheme, including accomplices based in Ghana.

The fraudulent operation affected victims across 25 states in the United States, as well as individuals in Germany and Austria.

The total financial losses suffered by the victims exceeded US$9 million.

Luxury watches and jewellery to be forfeited

As part of their plea agreements, the Abubakari brothers and their American accomplice have agreed to surrender valuable items seized by investigators during their arrests.

The assets include luxury watches, rings, chains, medallions, earrings and other expensive jewellery.

The forfeiture forms part of the legal consequences arising from their admission of involvement in the fraudulent scheme.

Ghanaian security agencies assisted investigations

The investigation was led by the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assistance from several law enforcement and security institutions in Ghana and the United States.

Among the Ghanaian institutions that supported the investigation were the Office of the Attorney-General, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service and the Cyber Security Authority.

Others included the Narcotics Control Commission, Financial Intelligence Centre, Ghana Immigration Service and National Intelligence Bureau.

The US Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs also provided assistance during the investigation and prosecution.

The collaboration between the agencies contributed to the prosecution of the three individuals.

Sentencing scheduled for February 2027

Following their guilty pleas, the three defendants are awaiting sentencing before a United States federal district court.

The Abubakari brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2027, while Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie is expected to receive her sentence on February 10, 2027.

Although each defendant faces a maximum prison term of 20 years, the final sentences will be determined by the presiding judge after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant legal factors.

The guilty pleas mark a significant development in the prosecution of an international fraud network that exploited online relationships to obtain millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims.