A Ghanaian national has pleaded guilty in the United States to participating in a large-scale online fraud operation that targeted vulnerable victims through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as “Van,” admitted in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of an international criminal network that stole more than $100 million from victims across the United States.
The guilty plea was announced by Jay Clayton, head of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Yeboah entered the plea before Arun Subramanian.
Prosecutors said the criminal organization was primarily based in Ghana and carried out romance scams and business email compromise attacks targeting individuals and businesses across the United States. Many of the victims were elderly people who were manipulated into believing they were in genuine romantic relationships online.
According to court filings, members of the conspiracy created fake identities and built emotional relationships with victims through online communication. Once trust was established, victims were persuaded to send money or assist in laundering funds obtained from other targets.
“Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams,” Clayton said in a statement. “Many New Yorkers search for companionship online, and no one deserves to have their vulnerability met with fraud and theft.”
Authorities said Yeboah personally carried out several of the romance scams by impersonating romantic partners while communicating with victims. Prosecutors say he is responsible for stealing more than $10 million through those schemes.
The broader criminal network is believed to have stolen and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims, with proceeds ultimately transferred to West Africa.
Yeboah, 40, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He also agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $10,149,429.17.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2026, before Judge Subramanian.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from authorities in Ghana and the United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs. Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit are handling the case.
Officials also warned the public to remain cautious when forming relationships online, particularly on dating platforms, and to avoid sending money to people they have not met in person.
