One popular socialite for Ghana – Frederick Kumi aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng dey face romance scam charges for di US afta a federal jury return 2-count indictment charge.

Di 31-year-old wey im name on top social media be Abu Trica according to di US attorney office be part of one criminal network wey dey target elderly victims through romance scams across di US since 2023.

Dem defraud dia victims of up to $8m.

Who be Abu Trica

Abu Trica wey dey flaunt raw cash for all his social media platforms, dey live large wey he dey spray money for public entertainment events.

He also dey buy luxury cars wey he dey cruise around town – as he also dey show plush houses.

He get thousands of followers across TikTok and Instagram and he dey describe himself as successful businessman.

Di young man from Swedru for di central region of Ghana dey live large wit expensive taste of furniture, cars and oda properties.

Some Ghanaians begin to question his source of wealth some years back wen he begin to display bundles of cash for social media.

In 2024, he launch his latest Lamborghini Urus wey dey cost around GHc 6.8m ($594k).

Police for Ghana arrest di 31-year-old on 11 December, months afta rumours spread say he dey for di FBI and Interpol radar.

How Abu Trica and his network allegedly scam dia victims

According to di indictment, "di perpetrators of dis romance scam use artificial intelligence software to create fake identity and form personal relationships wit victims."

"Dis pipo get di trust of dia victims wey dem collect dia money and oda valuables – dem dey target di pipo through social media and oda dating platforms under false pretences," di US attorney office statement tok.

Di victims wey be older pipo, enta long-distance romantic relationship wit di syndicate. Di group build trust wit dia victims wit frequent calls and phone chats, emails and oda messaging platforms.

Afta dem get di trust of dia victims, dem now go ask dem for money or valuables say dem dey wan use for medical bills, travel expenses or oda investment opportunities.

Wit dis misrepresentations, di victims send money and oda valuables.

Di indictment also allege say "afta di victims transfer di money, Abu Trica work wit his network to spread di money from Ohio and across di US to oda associates for Ghana and oda locations.

Wetin be di charges he dey face

Kumi dey charged wit conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy wey he dey face up to 20 years for prison.

If di court convict am, di court go sentence am depending on factors of di specific case.

Di US attorney office say dis indictment be only a charge, Abu Trica dey entitled to fair trial wey di govment of di US get di burden to prove di guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Bifor dis indictment, di Cleveland FBI investigate di mata wey assistant US attorney Brian McDonough for di North District of Ohio dey prosecute di case.

Dis case according to di US attorney office be sake of collabo among Ghana attorney general office, di economic and organized crime office (Eoco), Ghana police service and di cyber security authority of Ghana.

Oda agencies wey contribute to di investigation be Ghana Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana National Intelligence Bureau, di U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Sensitive Investigation Unit and di U.S. Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations.

Di rest be U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, and FBI Legal Attaché Office for Accra.