A federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment charging a Ghanaian national, Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng and Abu Trica, with defrauding elderly victims of more than $8 million.
According to a recently unsealed indictment, the 31-year-old from Swedru was part of a criminal network that targeted elderly individuals in romance scams across the United States since 2023. He was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025.
The indictment states that members of the network used Artificial Intelligence software to assume false identities and establish close personal relationships with their victims. They targeted individuals—mostly elderly—through social media and online dating platforms, posing as potential romantic partners.
Per investigators, perpetrators built emotional bonds with victims through frequent and intimate communication using phone calls, emails, and messaging platforms. Once trust was established, they requested money or valuables under false pretenses, including medical emergencies, travel expenses, or supposed investment opportunities.
Victims, relying on these misrepresentations, transferred funds or valuables which were then redirected to co-conspirators posing as third parties. The indictment further alleges that after victims sent funds, Abu Trica coordinated with associates to distribute the money from Ohio and other parts of the United States to accomplices in Ghana and elsewhere.
He has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The court will determine any sentence after reviewing factors specific to the case, including the defendant’s criminal history, role in the offense, and the nature of the violations. Sentences will not exceed statutory limits and, in most cases, fall below the maximum.
Authorities stressed that an indictment is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The defendant remains entitled to a fair trial, where prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI Cleveland Division conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough is prosecuting the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office acknowledged the cooperation of multiple agencies, including Ghana’s Attorney General’s Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Cyber Security Authority, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), National Intelligence Bureau, and U.S. agencies such as the DEA’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra.
The investigation and prosecution form part of the Elder Justice Initiative, created under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA), which strengthens federal efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams targeting older Americans.
