Jamal Abubakari, a 22-year-old Ghanaian national also known as “Arrangement,” has asked a U.S. federal court for a 60- to 90-day postponement of his upcoming trial on fraud-related charges.
His lawyers cited the recent disclosure of a large volume of evidence by the government and repeated technical difficulties in transferring the files onto hard drives as the reasons for the request. The pretrial deadline in the case had been set for September 9, with a jury trial scheduled for October 26.
Abubakari faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. He was indicted alongside his twin brother, Kamal Abubakari (also known as “Lancaster”), and Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, a 53-year-old American woman. Prosecutors allege that between approximately July 2024 and April 2026, the defendants and co-conspirators targeted older Americans on dating websites and social media platforms. Using fake personas, they allegedly built emotional or romantic relationships with victims before persuading them to send money via wire transfers to accounts controlled by the group. Portions of the funds were reportedly sent to associates in Ghana and elsewhere.
The three defendants were arrested in Virginia and have remained in custody. The case is being handled in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and forms part of a broader series of prosecutions linked to Ghana-based romance fraud networks that targeted elderly victims. Related cases have been coordinated under a single U.S. district judge.
Abubakari and his brother had gained visibility on Ghanaian social media under the names Arrangement and Lancaster, often posting images of luxury vehicles, designer items, and cash. They were reportedly arrested by the FBI shortly after arriving in the United States.
An indictment is an accusation and does not constitute a finding of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The court has not yet ruled on the requested delay.
