A Ghanaian national has pleaded guilty in a United States court to his role in an international fraud ring that stole more than $100 million from victims through online romance scams and business email compromise schemes, with the accused personally responsible for over $10 million in illicit profits.
Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as “Van,” entered the guilty plea on March 5 before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at the Southern District of New York, admitting to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud . The 40-year-old was extradited from Ghana to the United States in August 2025 alongside two other alleged members of the criminal network .
“Cruelly exploited vulnerabilities”
According to prosecutors, Yeboah was a member of a criminal organisation primarily based in Ghana that carried out romance scams and business email compromise operations against individuals and businesses across the United States .
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, said the scheme specifically targeted vulnerable individuals seeking companionship online.
“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. Van Yeboah cruelly exploited those vulnerabilities for over $10 million in illicit profit” .
Court documents reveal that members of the conspiracy created fake online identities and used them to build relationships with victims, convincing them they were involved in genuine romantic partnerships. Once trust was established, the fraudsters persuaded victims to transfer money or assist in laundering funds obtained from other victims .
Business email compromise tactics
Beyond individual victims, the scheme also targeted businesses through sophisticated email compromises. The conspirators used fraudulent emails that appeared to come from legitimate companies or executives to trick businesses into wiring large sums of money to accounts controlled by the criminal network .
In total, prosecutors said the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims, with the proceeds later moved to West Africa .
Yeboah personally perpetrated many of the romance scams by impersonating fake romantic partners in communications with victims. Court records show he is being held responsible for more than $10 million obtained through these fraudulent interactions .
Restitution and sentencing
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Yeboah has agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture amounting to $10,149,429.17, representing the proceeds of the crimes attributed to him .
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison under United States law. However, prosecutors noted that the maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided for informational purposes only, with the final punishment to be determined by the presiding judge .
Yeboah is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Subramanian on June 3, 2026 .
International cooperation
The case highlights the growing collaboration between United States and Ghanaian authorities in combating transnational cybercrime. The investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with significant assistance from Ghanaian authorities including the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL, the Cyber Security Authority, and the National Intelligence Bureau .
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance in securing the extradition .
In August 2025, three high-ranking members of the Ghana-based cybercrime ring—Yeboah, Isaac Oduro Boateng (aka Kofi Boat), and Inusah Ahmed (aka Pascal)—were extradited to the US to face charges. A fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare (aka Borgar), remains at large .
Strong bilateral ties
The extradition reflects the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Ghana and the United States on cybersecurity and law enforcement. In December 2025, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Ghana, Rolf Olson, described the extradition of nine Ghanaian nationals to the United States on cybercrime charges within a single year as an “extraordinary achievement” .
President John Dramani Mahama has also affirmed Ghana’s commitment to continuing collaboration with international partners in prosecuting individuals involved in romance scams and cyber fraud .
“We will continue to collaborate with all our global partners, anybody involved in romance scam whether you’re a foreigner or you’re a Ghanaian citizen, we will hand you over to be trialed and punished accordingly,” President Mahama said in October 2025 .
The case is being prosecuted by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner leading the prosecution .
