U.S. prosecutors allege that Frederick Kumi, also known as Abu Trica, exploited artificial intelligence and fabricated online identities to run a romance scam that defrauded more than 80 elderly Americans of over $8 million. The allegations, detailed in a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, follow Kumi’s extradition from Ghana to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Court filings claim Kumi and co‑defendant Daniel Yussif led a criminal network between April 2023 and November 2025, targeting widows and divorcees through dating platforms and social media. Prosecutors say the group used fictitious female personas to build trust before soliciting money under false pretences.
According to the Department of Justice, Kumi employed AI‑driven video tools to impersonate women, while other conspirators relied on encrypted messaging and phone calls to sustain the deception. According to investigators, victims were led to believe they were in genuine romantic relationships before being persuaded to transfer money to assist with fabricated stories involving gold or diamond inheritances.
The funds were allegedly deposited into bank accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy before being distributed to accomplices in Ghana and other countries. Prosecutors further allege that the network used money mules in Ghana and members of the Ghanaian immigrant community in the United States to launder millions of dollars through shell businesses and bank accounts.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that the scheme generated more than $8 million from over 80 elderly victims. Authorities also allege that Kumi used proceeds from the alleged fraud to acquire luxury assets, including a mansion in Ghana, a Lamborghini, a Tesla Cybertruck, a Mercedes-Benz and a BMW. The assets have since been seized by law enforcement. Kumi was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, and extradited to the United States on July 9, 2026.
He has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors are also seeking the forfeiture of assets they allege were acquired with proceeds of the scheme. If convicted, Kumi faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count.
Any sentence will be determined by the court after considering factors including his criminal history, if any, his alleged role in the offences and other relevant sentencing considerations. As with all criminal proceedings, the allegations remain unproven, and Kumi is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: William Narh
