The $8 million romance fraud case involving Ghanaian national Abu Trica has taken a new turn in the United States after his legal team secured a complex case designation.
In a motion filed on July 30, 2026, at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, lawyers for Abu Trica asked the court for more time to prepare for trial, arguing that the case is far from straightforward.
According to the filing, there is a significant volume of evidence to review and the defense needs adequate time to go through it all to mount a proper defense. They noted that rushing the process could undermine his right to a fair trial.
The lawyers further explained that Abu Trica remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, which means the evidence has to be properly organized to enable him to consult with his legal team and fully understand the case against him.
They stressed that the request was not an attempt to stall proceedings, but a necessary step to ensure due process, given the seriousness of the charges and the heavy penalties they carry.
The prosecution did not oppose the request. Presiding Judge John R. Adams has since granted it and officially declared the case complex.
As a result, new timelines for the next phases of the case will be set during a pretrial conference scheduled for August 25, 2026.
Abu Trica was initially expected to stand trial on September 8, 2026, after pleading not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
