Accra: The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has shared an update on the case of Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, who has been accused of scamming Americans and is undergoing extradition proceedings.
According to Ghana Web, the DoJ indicated that the investigation involves at least five Ghanaians who are accused of defrauding over 130 victims across the United States through romance scams, stealing over $15 million from Americans across several states. The bureau indicated that it has this week detained three of the suspects who were residing in the US and is working on the extradition of Abu Trica and the fifth suspect who are in Ghana.
In the Northern District of Ohio, Jamal Abubakari, aka Jamal Abubakar, aka Arrangement, 22, of Accra, Ghana; Kamal Abubakari, aka Kamal Abubakar, aka Lancaster, 22, of Accra, Ghana; and Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, aka Amanda Joy Glum, aka Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, 53, were ordered detained this week in connection with an over $15 million romance scam that defrauded over 130 victims across the United States. Frederick Kumi, aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, aka Abu Trica, 31, of Swedru, Ghana; and Daniel Yussif, aka Denteni, aka Slab, 31, of Accra, Ghana, are awaiting extradition.
The DoJ also gave the modus operandi of the suspects, which involved a laborious operation spanning the US and Ghana. According to the release, Abu Trica and others targeted older Americans, whom they allegedly misled into sending them money. The defendants reportedly targeted older Americans on dating websites and social media platforms to engage in romance fraud schemes, using advanced techniques including artificial intelligence-driven video platforms to engage victims under fictitious female personas. Victims sent money via wire transfer to financial accounts controlled by conspiracy members, which were further transferred to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.
The DoJ also stated that it had made some recoveries which are worth over $3 million. The operation involved search and arrest operations in Ghana, with assets seized estimated to amount to over $3 million, including a Lamborghini, Tesla Cybertruck, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.
The FBI completed its update with commendation for law enforcement agencies in Ghana and the United States. The bureau mentioned the Attorney-General's Office; Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO); Ghana Police Service (GPS); Ghana Cyber Security Authority; Ghana Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC); Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre; Ghana Immigration Service; and the National Intelligence Bureau. It also praised the DEA's Sensitive Investigations Unit; Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs; U.S. Department of State; FBI Washington Field Office; and FBI Legal Attach© Office in Accra for their collaboration in the investigation.