In a significant development underscoring growing U.S.-Ghana cooperation against transnational cybercrime, Ghanaian national Derrick “Van” Yeboah has pleaded guilty in the U.S. Southern District of New York to his role in an international criminal enterprise that defrauded American victims of more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) attacks.
Yeboah, 40, of Ghana, also known as “Van,” entered the plea on March 5, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 3, 2026, and has agreed to pay $10,149,429.17 in restitution and forfeiture — the amount authorities hold him personally responsible for stealing through romance scams alone.
The U.S. Embassy in Ghana highlighted the case in a statement today, noting that Yeboah was extradited to the United States in August 2025 as part of a Ghana-based organization whose collective fraud exceeded $100 million. “The United States is working closely with the Government of Ghana and other international partners to investigate and prosecute cyber and transnational criminals perpetrating crimes against Americans,” the embassy posted, tagging the Department of Justice with the hashtag #CrimeDoesntPay.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the organization primarily operated from Ghana and targeted vulnerable older men and women across the United States. Perpetrators created fake online romantic identities to build trust before tricking victims into wiring money or assisting in laundering funds from other scams. The group also executed BEC schemes that deceived businesses into sending funds to fraudulent accounts. Proceeds were laundered to West Africa.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated: “Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams… 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.”
Yeboah was one of four high-ranking members charged in an August 2025 indictment. Isaac Oduro Boateng (a/k/a “Kofi Boat”), 36, and Inusah Ahmed (a/k/a “Pascal”), 40 — described as the organization’s “chairmen” — were also extradited from Ghana in August 2025. Patrick Kwame Asare (a/k/a “Borgar”), 39, remains at large. The case is being prosecuted by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the FBI and Ghanaian authorities including the Economic and Organized Crime Office, Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL, Cyber Security Authority, and National Intelligence Bureau.
Stakeholder Implications
For Ghanaian and international businesses, the case highlights the escalating threat of BEC attacks, which continue to cost companies millions annually in diverted funds and eroded trust. Stakeholders in finance, fintech, and cross-border trade must prioritize robust email security protocols, employee training, and verification processes to mitigate risks.The successful extradition and prosecution also reinforce Ghana’s commitment to combating cyber-enabled fraud — often locally termed “Sakawa” or “Game Boys” operations — which has long strained bilateral relations and Ghana’s global reputation. Continued collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI could strengthen investor confidence, support Ghana’s digital economy goals, and deter future schemes.Victims, particularly elderly individuals and small businesses, stand to benefit from the restitution order, though full recovery remains challenging in such complex international cases.
The U.S. Embassy’s public announcement serves as both a deterrent and a call for vigilance. As Ghana positions itself as a hub for technology and investment in West Africa, cases like this underscore the critical need for sustained public-private partnerships to safeguard economic stakeholders from the shadows of cybercrime. Stakeholders Magazine will continue monitoring developments ahead of Yeboah’s sentencing and any further actions against co-conspirators.
