Ghanaian social media personality Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering following his extradition to the United States.
Abu Trica appeared before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, where he denied allegations brought against him by prosecutors.
According to court documents, prosecutors accuse him of being involved in a romance fraud scheme alongside Daniel Yussif and other individuals.
The alleged scheme involved the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create fake identities, build online relationships with victims and fraudulently obtain money from them.
The case is being handled by Judge John R. Adams, who has scheduled the jury trial for September 8, 2026. A pre-trial conference has also been set for August 25, 2026.
Court records indicate that both the prosecution and defence have the option to engage in plea negotiations before the trial begins.
However, the court has stated that any plea agreement must be reached before the pre-trial conference, adding that it will not accept plea agreements after that date.
Abu Trica will remain subject to the court process as the matter moves toward trial.
