A Ghanaian influencer who flaunted designer goods to more than 100,000 Instagram followers is now in the US, accused of helping swindle older Americans out of more than $8 million. Frederick Kumi, known online as "Abu Trica," was extradited from Ghana on Thursday to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, reports the BBC. He has pleaded not guilty and could receive up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
US prosecutors say Kumi used artificial intelligence to craft fake personas on social media and dating platforms, building trust with victims through frequent, intimate conversations before seeking money for supposed medical emergencies, travel costs, or investment deals. The funds allegedly moved through co-conspirators in the US and Ghana. Kumi's lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, says he was in court trying to halt the extradition when he learned his client was already on a Delta flight to JFK airport in New York City, accusing Ghana's government of bypassing judicial review and raising "profound constitutional questions." The government has not responded. A story at Ghanaweb.com zeroes in on that issue.
The case falls under a US elder-abuse law and is part of a broader push targeting alleged fraud networks in West Africa and the US. Kumi, a native of southern Ghana, is known for showing off luxury cars and such on social media, notes TVC News.
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