United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the guilty plea of DERRICK VAN YEBOAH, a/k/a “Van,” for his role in an international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises. VAN YEBOAH pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
“Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “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. This 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 the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
VAN YEBOAH was a member of a criminal organization primarily based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the United States. Many of the conspiracy’s victims were vulnerable older men and women who were tricked into believing that they were in online romantic relationships with persons who were, in fact, fake identities assumed by members of the conspiracy. Once members of the conspiracy had gained the trust of their victims, they deceived those victims into sending their money to the enterprise or into helping them launder funds from other victims. The conspirators also committed business email compromises to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds to the enterprise. In total, the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims. After stealing the money, the fraud proceeds were then laundered to West Africa.
VAN YEBOAH personally perpetrated many of the romance scams by impersonating fake romantic partners in communications with victims. He is being held responsible for more than $10 million he stole from victims via his romance scams.
VAN YEBOAH, 40, of Ghana, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. VAN YEBOAH also agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, both in the amount of $10,149,429.17.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. VAN YEBOAH is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Subramanian on June 3, 2026.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also thanked Ghana and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.
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