A 40-year old Ghanaian national, Derrick Van Yeboah, has pleaded guilty in the United States to his involvement in an international criminal network that defrauded victims of more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
Van Yeboah, also known as “Van”, entered the guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Van Yeboah exploited vulnerable individuals seeking companionship online.
“Derrick Van Yeboah pleaded guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams,” said United States Attorney Jay Clayton. “Many New Yorkers search for companionship online, and no one deserves to have their vulnerability met with fraud and theft. Van Yeboah cruelly exploited those vulnerabilities for over $10 million in illicit profit.”
Prosecutors reported that Van Yeboah was part of a Ghana-based criminal organization that deceived victims across the United States. The group used fake online identities to elish trust, convincing victims to send money or assist in laundering funds. They also targeted companies through business email compromise fraud.
Court documents revealed that Van Yeboah personally conducted several scams, posing as romantic partners to extract funds from victims. He is responsible for over $10 million obtained through these schemes.
Van Yeboah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He also agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $10,149,429.17. His sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2026.
The case was investigated by the FBI with support from Ghanaian authorities and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
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