A 40-year-old Ghanaian national has pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court for his lead role in a sophisticated international criminal enterprise that swindled over $100 million from unsuspecting victims across the United States.

Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as Van, admitted to personally stealing more than $10 million through a series of ruthless "romance scams" that targeted vulnerable, elderly men and women searching for companionship online.

The guilty plea, entered before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on Thursday, March 5, marks a major victory for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in its crackdown on West African-based cybercrime syndicates.

Inside the ‘Fake Identity’ Factory

According to court documents, Van Yeboah was a key operative in a Ghana-based organisation that utilised "fake identities" to groom victims over several months.

Once the conspirators gained the victims' trust through fabricated romantic relationships, they manipulated them into wiring life savings directly to the enterprise or into laundering funds stolen from other targets.

“Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams,” stated 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.”

$100 Million laundered to West Africa

The scope of the conspiracy extended beyond individual heartbreak to corporate sabotage. Investigators revealed the group also employed Business Email Compromise (BEC) tactics to trick American companies into diverting millions of dollars. In total, the enterprise laundered more than $100 million, the proceeds of which were funnelled back to West Africa.

Van Yeboah has been held personally responsible for $10,149,429.17 in stolen funds. As part of his plea agreement, he has agreed to pay full restitution and forfeiture of this amount.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, with significant assistance provided by the Government of Ghana.

A warning to the Public

U.S. Attorney Clayton issued a stern warning to internet users, particularly those on dating platforms, to remain vigilant against "too good to be true" scenarios.

“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,” Clayton added.

Van Yeboah is scheduled for sentencing on 3 June 2026. He faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.