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| Derrick Van Yeboah, 40, pleaded guilty in the U.S. for his role in a $10 million romance scam and cyber-fraud network. |
- Intro
- Who Is Derrick Van Yeboah?
- How the $10 Million Romance Scam Worked
- The Bigger $100 Million Fraud Network
- Extradition & International Cooperation
- Reactions in Ghana
- Summary
Intro:
A Ghanaian national has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court for his role in a massive international fraud ring responsible for stealing millions from American victims through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
Derrick Van Yeboah, a 40-year-old Ghanaian citizen, admitted to participating in a criminal network that defrauded victims of more than $10 million through online deception, emotional manipulation, and corporate email fraud.
The case has sparked major conversations in both the U.S. and Ghana about cybercrime, extradition, and the growing sophistication of online fraud networks.
Who Is Derrick Van Yeboah?
Yeboah, also known as “Van”, pleaded guilty on March 5, 2026, before Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York. He was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Yeboah was a high-ranking member of a Ghana-based cybercrime organization that targeted vulnerable individuals—especially elderly Americans—through romance scams.
His plea agreement includes more than $10.1 million in restitution and forfeiture.
How the $10 Million Romance Scam Worked
Prosecutors say Yeboah and his associates created fake online identities to build emotional relationships with victims. Once trust was established, they manipulated victims into sending money for:
- Fake medical emergencies
- Travel expenses
- Investment opportunities
- Fabricated crises
Victims often believed they were helping a romantic partner in distress — only to discover they had been deceived.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Yeboah personally facilitated scams totaling more than $10 million.
The Bigger $100 Million Fraud Network
Yeboah was part of a larger transnational criminal enterprise that stole over $100 million from U.S. victims between 2016 and 2023.
The group also carried out business email compromise (BEC) attacks, impersonating executives or trusted partners to trick companies into wiring large sums of money.
The FBI and U.S. prosecutors describe the network as highly organized, using:
- Fake identities
- Money mules
- International bank accounts
- Encrypted communication channels
The case is one of the largest Ghana-linked cybercrime prosecutions in recent years.
Extradition & International Cooperation
Yeboah was extradited from Ghana to the United States in August 2025, along with two other suspects:
- Isaac Oduro Boateng (a.k.a. “Kofi Boat”)
- Inusah Ahmed (a.k.a. “Pascal”)
A fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare (a.k.a. “Borgar”), remains at large.
The FBI worked closely with Ghanaian law enforcement, highlighting growing cooperation between the two countries in combating cyber-enabled fraud.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams.”
Reactions in Ghana
The case has generated significant attention in Ghana, with social media users and local media discussing:
- Condemnation of cybercrime
- Calls for stronger action against “sakawa” networks
- Concerns about Ghana’s international reputation
- Comparisons to similar cases in West Africa
Some expressed embarrassment, while others argued that cybercrime is a global issue not limited to any one country.
Summary:
- A Ghanaian man, Derrick Van Yeboah, pleaded guilty to a $10 million romance scam scheme.
- He was part of a larger $100 million fraud network operating from Ghana.
- He faces up to 20 years in U.S. federal prison.
- The case highlights U.S.–Ghana cooperation in fighting cybercrime.
- Ghanaian social media reacted with debate, criticism, and calls for reform.
For more crime and justice stories, explore our News & Security Collection.
Cybercrime may cross borders — but justice follows closely behind.📚 Sources
This report is based on publicly available information from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, FBI case summaries, statements from U.S. officials, and Ghanaian media coverage as of March 13, 2026.