Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
Derrick Van Yeboah, a Ghanaian national, has pleaded guilty to participating in an international criminal organization that defrauded victims of more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromises. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton commented on the case: “Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams. 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. Today’s plea is a reminder to be vigilant online—especially on dating websites, never give money to someone you just met—and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Van Yeboah was part of a group based primarily in Ghana that targeted individuals and businesses across the United States. Many victims were older adults who believed they were engaged in genuine romantic relationships with people who were actually members of the conspiracy using false identities. After gaining their trust, conspirators convinced these individuals either to send money directly or help launder funds obtained from other victims.
The organization also used business email compromise schemes to deceive companies into wiring money under false pretenses. Overall, more than $100 million was stolen from dozens of victims and subsequently laundered to West Africa.
Van Yeboah himself impersonated fake romantic partners when communicating with victims and is being held accountable for stealing over $10 million through these scams.
Van Yeboah, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture totaling $10,149,429.17. Sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Clayton acknowledged the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as assistance from authorities in Ghana and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner from the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.
