A 40-year-old Ghanaian national, Derrick Van Yeboah, has pleaded guilty in the United States for his role in an international fraud network that defrauded victims of more than $100 million through online romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
Yeboah, also known as “Van,” entered the guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at the U.S. District Court for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
In a statement issued on March 5, U.S. Attorney for the district, Jay Clayton, said the defendant preyed on vulnerable individuals searching for companionship online.
“Derrick Van Yeboah pleaded guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams,” Clayton said, adding that many victims were manipulated into sending money after being deceived into believing they were in genuine relationships.
Prosecutors said Yeboah was part of a Ghana-based criminal organisation that carried out romance scams and business email compromise fraud targeting individuals and businesses across the United States.
Investigators revealed that members of the network used fake online identities to build relationships with victims—many of them elderly—before persuading them to transfer money or help launder funds obtained from other victims. The group also tricked companies into wiring money to accounts controlled by the conspirators.
Authorities said the network stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims, with much of the proceeds eventually transferred to West Africa. Court documents showed that Yeboah personally conducted several romance scams and is responsible for more than $10 million obtained through the scheme.
Yeboah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He also agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $10,149,429.17.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3, 2026.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from Ghanaian authorities and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.