Abu Trica
A United States District Court judge has issued a directive allowing the legal team of Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, access to sealed materials relating to his trial which is scheduled for September 2026.
Abu Trica, 31, and another Ghanaian, Daniel Yussif, aka Denteni, aka Slab, 31, have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
He was extradited to the United States on July 9 to face trial over some alleged $8 million romance scam, and faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of the charges levelled against him by US officials.
A Northern District Court of Ohio, presided over by Judge John R. Adams has now granted federal prosecutors permission to the defence team sealed documents, including copies of the search warrants supporting affidavits, applications, and warrant returns relating to the case.
The court has issued a protective order for discovery of material, ensuring that the materials disclosed to the defence shall be used solely for the purpose of the trial and not shared with others outside the defence team.
“Discovery Material shall be used solely for the purpose of conducting pretrial, trial, appellate, and collateral proceedings in this action and for no other purpose whatsoever,” the court directed.
The court further ordered that “In no event will a Defense Team disclose, directly or indirectly, Discovery Material or the substance thereof to anyone, including the media (excepting any disclosures that may occur during public proceedings at a hearing, trial, or appeal in connection with this matter), except as provided herein.”
Prior to the disclosure of the materials, each defendant and counsel of record are required to sign the appropriate attached acknowledgment and either provide a copy to the US government or file the signed acknowledgment ex parte and under seal with the Court.
“Before receiving, reviewing, or discussing Discovery Material, each additional Defense Team member shall also sign the appropriate attached acknowledgment and either provide a signed copy to the government or file it ex parte and under seal with the Court,” the order noted.
The court pointed out that if it has reason to believe that a violation of this order has occurred, the Court may then open a sealed Acknowledgement and disclose it to an appropriate investigating authority.
Meanwhile, an arrest warrant dated November 20, 2025, and issued for the apprehension of Abu Trica has popped up, indicating that he been indicted for the offence of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
Abu Trica and Daniel Yussif have pleaded not guilty to both counts and are currently in detention awaiting pre-trial proceedings scheduled for August 26, while a jury trial is set to commence on September 8, 2026.
Court documents allege that Abu Trica and Yussif acted as leaders of a group that used online dating sites and social media to identify and target their victims, who were often widows or divorcees.
It further pointed out that “after being misled by false stories or gold or diamond inheritances, the victims sent money via wire transfer to financial accounts controlled by conspiracy members.”
Portions of the funds were allegedly further provided to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere, with the statement noting that Abu Trica and other co-conspirators used money mules based in Ghana, and contacts in the Ghanaian immigrant community in the US, to launder millions of dollars through fake businesses and bank accounts.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak