Cleveland, Ohio – December 11, 2025 – A 31-year-old Ghanaian national popularly known as Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng or “Abu Trica,” has been indicted in the United States on federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a large-scale romance scam that defrauded elderly American victims of more than $8 million since 2023.
Kumi, a resident of Agona Swedru in Ghana’s Central Region, was arrested in Ghana on Wednesday, December 11, 2025, following a joint operation between U.S. and Ghanaian law enforcement agencies.
According to the federal indictment unsealed in the Northern District of Ohio, Kumi and unnamed co-conspirators used artificial intelligence to generate fake identities and highly convincing online personas. These fabricated profiles were deployed on social media platforms and dating applications to initiate romantic relationships with elderly victims, primarily in the United States.
Once trust was established, the scammers allegedly invented urgent financial crises—such as medical emergencies, travel complications, or lucrative but fictitious investment opportunities—to persuade victims to wire-transfer large sums of money. Prosecutors say the funds were routed through bank accounts in Ohio before being quickly moved to Ghana and other locations with the defendant’s assistance.
Kumi faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and a forfeiture specification. If convicted on the maximum penalty is 20 years in federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted under the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, established under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 to combat financial exploitation of senior citizens.
The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI’s Cleveland Division, with significant assistance from the Ghana Police Service, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough is leading the prosecution.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized: “An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which the government has the burden of proving guilt.”
Authorities say the case highlights the growing use of sophisticated technology, including artificial intelligence, in transnational cyber-enabled fraud schemes targeting vulnerable populations.
Kumi remains in custody in Ghana pending extradition proceedings to the United States.