Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, popularly known as Abu Trica, has been arrested and indicted in the United States for allegedly orchestrating an $8 million AI-driven romance scam that targeted elderly victims.
According to a newly unsealed federal indictment from the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the 31-year-old Abu Trica, who hails from Swedru, was part of a criminal network that targeted elderly victims in romance scams across the United States since 2023.
Abu Trica was, however, arrested by Ghanaian authorities on Wednesday, December 11, 2025.
The indictment further added that perpetrators of this romance scam used Artificial Intelligence software to assume false identities and form close personal relationships with victims. They gained victims’ trust to obtain money and valuables, often targeting individuals through social media and online dating platforms under false pretenses.
Victims were often elderly and engaged in romantic but physically distant relationships with perpetrators. The perpetrators built trust through frequent, intimate conversations by phone, email, and messaging platforms. They then requested money or valuables under false pretenses, such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. Relying on these misrepresentations, victims were persuaded to send funds or valuables, which were then directed to co-conspirators posing as third parties.
The indictment also alleges that after the victims transferred funds, Kumi worked with a network of co-conspirators to distribute the money from Ohio and across the United States to associates in the Republic of Ghana and other locations.
Kumi 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, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including a defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Brian M McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.
Authorities said the case involved collaboration with multiple agencies, including Ghana’s Attorney General’s Office, EOCO, the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Cyber Security Authority, NACOC, the Ghana National Intelligence Bureau, and US federal agencies including the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations.
Officials added that the prosecution is part of the Elder Justice Initiative Program, created under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017, aimed at combating elder abuse and financial fraud targeting seniors.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
