Crime

Ghanaian Student in Minnesota Charged with Credit Card Fraud and Exploitation

A Ghanaian international student working as a personal care assistant in Duluth, Minnesota, has been charged with financial fraud after investigators alleged he used an elderly, blind client's credit card to pay over $11,000 in college tuition and online purchases.

By FrimPong

Published: August 11, 2026

DULUTH, Minnesota — A Ghanaian international student living in Duluth, Minnesota, is facing criminal charges after allegations that he used a vulnerable client's credit card without authorization to fund more than $11,000 in personal expenses and tuition, according to local law enforcement records.

Henry Opoku Ware Jr., who was employed as a personal care assistant (PCA) in the area, has been charged with financial transaction card fraud and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult's property.

Chronology of the Investigation

Court documents filed by the Duluth Police Department outline the sequence of events leading to the charges:

Late July 2025: According to investigators, Opoku visited the private residence of an elderly client who is legally blind while working for his employer, Cornerstone Caregiving.
Summer 2025 Transactions: Authorities allege that on the day of the visit and continuing through August 2025, the client’s credit card was used for multiple unauthorized transactions totaling $11,152.22.
October 2025: After an initial investigation during which police noted difficulties in locating the suspect, formal criminal charges were filed in mid-October 2025.

Use of Funds and Institutional Response

According to investigators, financial records tied some of the disputed charges directly to Opoku’s education, including a payment made to the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, where Opoku was enrolled as a student. Other transactions reportedly involved online purchases.

Institutional and corporate partners involved in the case took swift administrative action once the allegations surfaced:

The College of St. Scholastica: University officials verified the transaction, fully refunded the victim, and subsequently expelled Opoku from the institution.
Cornerstone Caregiving: Opoku’s former employer terminated his employment and fully cooperated with the Duluth Police Department's investigation.

Legal Status and Presumption of Innocence

Note: The details outlined in this report are based on police charging documents and official statements. Under United States law, criminal charges are accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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