Ghanaian Man Derrick “Van” Yeboah Pleads Guilty In U.S. Over $10 Million Romance Scam

Ghanaian Man Derrick “Van” Yeboah Pleads Guilty In U.S. Over $10 Million Romance Scam.
A Ghanaian national, Derrick “Van” Yeboah, has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court for his role in a large international cyber-fraud scheme that defrauded victims of millions of dollars through online romance scams and business email compromise operations. According to U.S. prosecutors, the 40-year-old was part of a Ghana-based criminal organization that targeted individuals and businesses across the United States, stealing more than $100 million collectively through sophisticated online fraud schemes. � MyJoyOnline +1 Extradition To The United States Authorities revealed that Yeboah was extradited from Ghana to the United States in August 2025 after investigations linked him to the international fraud network. � Newsmakers He later appeared before the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a serious federal offense that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. � MyJoyOnline How The Fraud Scheme Worked Investigators say the criminal group used romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) schemes to deceive victims. In the romance scam operations, members of the network allegedly created fake identities on dating platforms and social media, pretending to be romantic partners in order to gain the trust of victims. Many of the victims were reportedly elderly individuals seeking companionship online. � MyJoyOnline +1 After building emotional relationships with the victims, the scammers would request money for fabricated emergencies, investments, or travel expenses. Authorities said that once the victims sent funds, the money was transferred through multiple accounts and eventually laundered to West Africa. � MyJoyOnline Role Played By Yeboah Prosecutors stated that Yeboah personally carried out several of the romance scams by communicating directly with victims while posing as fictitious romantic partners online. Investigators believe he is personally responsible for more than $10 million stolen from victims through the fraudulent scheme. � MyJoyOnline +1 Financial Restitution And Possible Sentence As part of his guilty plea, Yeboah agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $10,149,429.17, representing the amount attributed to his role in the fraud network. � Modern Ghana He is expected to be sentenced on June 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. However, the final sentence will be determined by the court based on federal sentencing guidelines. � MyJoyOnline International Cooperation In The Investigation The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with assistance from Ghanaian authorities and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. Officials say the case highlights growing international cooperation to combat transnational cybercrime, particularly romance scams and financial fraud schemes targeting victims across borders. � MyJoyOnline +1 Law enforcement agencies have also warned the public to remain cautious when forming relationships online or responding to unexpected financial requests through email or social media. Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office & International Media Reports

Stylecraft_Blog