Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as “Van,” entered a guilty plea for his involvement in an international criminal enterprise that stole over $100 million from victims through business email hacks and romance scams, according to United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton.
In front of U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian today, Van Yeboah entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, “Derrick Van Yeboah pleaded 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.”
Van Yeboah was a member of a criminal organization primarily based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against people and businesses across the United States, according to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings.
Vulnerable older men and women made up a large portion of the conspiracy’s victims. They were duped into thinking they were in romantic relationships online with people who were actually participants of the conspiracy using false identities.
Members of the conspiracy tricked their victims into contributing money to the business or assisting them in laundering money from additional victims once they had earned their trust.
The conspirators also used business email hacks to fool and deceive firms into sending money to the company.
Overall, the scheme stole and laundered almost $100 million from dozens of victims. After the money was stolen, the proceeds of the theft were laundered in West Africa.
Van Yeboah himself carried out several of the romance frauds by impersonating phoney love partners in conversations with victims.
He is being held accountable for the more than $10 million he stole from victims through his romantic scams.
Van Yeboah, 40, of Ghana, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conduct wire fraud, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Van Yeboah also consented to pay $10,149,429.17 in forfeiture and restitution.
The maximum possible punishment is set by Congress and is solely shown here for informational purposes; the judge will decide the defendant’s sentence.
Judge Subramanian is set to sentence Van Yeboah on June 3, 2026.
Mr. Clayton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its exceptional effort.
He also expressed gratitude to Ghana and the Office of International Affairs of the U.S. Department of Justice for their support.
The Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit is prosecuting the case.
Source: newsthemegh.com