Overview
- A federal grand jury in Cleveland unsealed a two-count indictment charging Frederick Kumi, 31, also known as Abu Trica, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering tied to more than $8 million in losses.
- Kumi was arrested in Ghana on December 11 in a coordinated operation with the FBI and multiple Ghanaian agencies, and the case is assigned to the Northern District of Ohio.
- Prosecutors allege the network used AI-generated identities on social media and dating platforms to form romantic relationships with predominantly elderly victims.
- After building trust, perpetrators allegedly solicited money for fabricated emergencies or investments and routed funds through U.S. co-conspirators to associates in Ghana and other locations.
- Kumi faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, and authorities note that extradition and arraignment steps are pending and that an indictment is only a charge.