Published: March 7, 2026
A 40-year-old Ghanaian man has admitted in a United States federal court to playing a central role in an extensive international fraud network that bilked victims, primarily elderly Americans, out of more than $100 million.
Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as "Van," entered a guilty plea on Thursday to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in the Southern District of New York, more than seven months after his extradition to the U.S. to face charges.
Court documents and statements from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that Yeboah was a key member of a criminal organization based in Ghana, referred to by authorities as "The Enterprise." The group is accused of orchestrating a complex web of fraud, including romance scams and business email compromise schemes, which caused combined losses exceeding $100 million.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the plea, stating that Yeboah personally perpetrated numerous romance scams. He allegedly posed as a fake romantic interest in communications with victims, many of whom were vulnerable elderly women and men, to extract money.
“Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women through online romance scams,” U.S. Attorney Clayton said in a statement. “Van Yeboah cruelly exploited those vulnerabilities for over $10 million in illicit profit.”
As part of his plea, Yeboah has agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $10,149,429.17—the amount he personally stole from victims.
He was extradited to the U.S. alongside two other Ghanaian nationals, Isaac Oduro Boateng and Insuah Ahmed, who are also implicated in the sprawling fraud network.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by Judge Subramanian at a hearing scheduled for June 3, 2026.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by international law enforcement, including the FBI’s Cyber Division, to dismantle transnational criminal enterprises that exploit online platforms and the emotional vulnerabilities of individuals seeking companionship. Following the plea, the FBI’s Cyber Division reminded the public to exercise extreme caution online, particularly on dating websites, and to never send money to someone they have not met in person.
