Ghanaian twin brothers have pleaded guilty to their roles in a romance fraud scheme that prosecutors say cost older Americans more than $9 million, using fake online identities to build relationships with victims before persuading them to send money.

Jamal Abubakari, 22, known as “Arrangement”, and his twin brother, Kamal Abubakari, known as “Lancaster”, entered guilty pleas on October 13, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Their co-defendant, 53-year-old Amanda Joy-Boachie, also known as Amanda Joy Kessei, pleaded guilty on October 20.

The three admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud in a scheme that targeted people in Ohio and 24 other US states.

Court documents indicate that the operation ran from July 2024 to April 2026. The defendants and their alleged associates used dating websites and social media platforms to create false profiles and establish close relationships with victims.

Prosecutors said the victims were persuaded to transfer money through financial accounts controlled by members of the group. Some of the proceeds were then sent to Ghana and other locations.

“The victims lost more than $9 million,” the US Attorney’s Office said in its statement.

Luxury items seized during arrests

The three defendants have agreed to forfeit luxury jewellery seized by investigators during their arrests. The items included watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings.

The FBI’s Cleveland division led the investigation, working with Ghanaian law enforcement and other government agencies, including the country’s police, Attorney General’s office, Economic and Organised Crime Office and Cyber Security Authority.

The twins were arrested in Virginia in May 2026, alongside Joy-Boachie, after US authorities said a business arrangement had been used to bring them into the country. Investigators had been monitoring the suspects before the arrests.

Each defendant faces a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years, although the final penalties will be determined by the court.

Jamal and Kamal Abubakari are scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2027. Joy-Boachie is due to be sentenced the following day.

Twins known for music and social media

Before their arrests, the brothers presented themselves online as musicians and were associated with Ghana’s social scene.

Their social media accounts featured music videos and images of luxury cars, houses and cash. Some of their TikTok videos attracted hundreds of thousands of views, while their song Business is Business, featuring Iceboy IBM, received more than 100,000 views on YouTube, according to the report.

Their guilty pleas come amid a wider US crackdown on romance fraud networks linked to Ghana.

Other Ghanaians face US fraud proceedings

Another Ghanaian businessman, Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as “Dada Joe Remix”, has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors said he was involved in a scheme that allegedly defrauded Americans through romance scams.

He agreed to repay $4.4 million. However, as of October 2026, his prison sentence had not been announced.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, known as “Abu Trica”, was extradited to the United States in July 2026 to face fraud and romance scam charges.

US prosecutors allege that Kumi and other members of a criminal network used technology and artificial intelligence to create false identities and target more than 80 Americans, allegedly defrauding them of over $8 million between April 2023 and November 2025.

Kumi has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. The allegations against him have therefore not been established in court.

The cases highlight the international reach of online romance fraud, in which criminals exploit trust and emotional connections to obtain money from victims. US and Ghanaian authorities have continued to work together to investigate suspected networks and pursue prosecutions.