A Ghanaian national has pleaded guilty in a United States court for his role in a massive international romance scam that defrauded victims of millions of dollars.
Derrick Van Yeboah, 40, also known as “Van,” admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that he participated in an online fraud scheme targeting victims through fake romantic relationships. The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Van Yeboah was part of a criminal network primarily based in Ghana that carried out romance scams and business email compromise schemes against individuals and businesses across the United States.
Authorities said the group used fake identities to build online relationships with victims, many of whom were elderly men and women seeking companionship. After gaining their trust, the scammers persuaded victims to send money or assist in transferring funds obtained from other victims.
Investigators said the broader conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims, with the proceeds later transferred to West Africa.
Prosecutors stated that Van Yeboah personally conducted many of the romance scams by posing as a romantic partner in online communications. He has been held responsible for stealing more than $10 million from victims.
“Many people search for companionship online, and no one deserves to have their vulnerability exploited for fraud and theft,” U.S. Attorney Clayton said in a statement following the guilty plea.
Van Yeboah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison. He has also agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $10,149,429.17.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3, 2026.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from authorities in Ghana and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
