A US federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment against Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng or “Abu Trica,” accusing him of defrauding elderly Americans of more than US$8 million.

According to the recently unsealed indictment, Kumi, 31, was part of a criminal network that, since 2023, orchestrated romance scams targeting elderly victims across the United States. He was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025.

Prosecutors say Kumi and his associates used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to create fake identities and cultivate close, trust-based relationships with victims on social media and online dating platforms. The indictment states that the perpetrators exploited these relationships to solicit money and valuables under false pretences — including fabricated medical emergencies, travel expenses, and investment opportunities.

“Victims were often elderly and engaged in romantic but physically distant relationships with perpetrators,” U.S. authorities explained, noting that scammers built credibility through frequent, intimate communication via phone, email, and messaging apps. Funds and valuables obtained from victims were then routed to co-conspirators posing as intermediaries.

The indictment further alleges that after the transfers were made, Kumi — a resident of Swedru in Ghana’s Central Region — worked with accomplices to move the proceeds from Ohio and other U.S. states to partners in Ghana and other unspecified locations.

Kumi is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and a forfeiture count. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

| Frederick Kumi, alias Abu Trica

The statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio, explained that if Abu Trica were 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, the statement underscored, adding that a defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The statement revealed that the investigation that led to the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio thanked the Ghana Attorney General’s Office and Ministry of Justice, Ghana Economic & Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Police Service (GPS), Ghana Cyber Security Authority (GCSA), Ghana Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) , Ghana National Intelligence Bureau (GNIB), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra for their cooperation with this matter. 

The mission of the Elder Justice Initiative Program, originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA), is to support and coordinate the US Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the nation’s elderly population.