Ghanaian Socialite Derrick Van Yeboah Pleads Guilty to $100M US Fraud Scheme
Derrick Van Yeboah, a 40-year-old Ghanaian socialite, has pleaded guilty in the United States to participating in a large-scale online fraud scheme that targeted victims through romance scams and business email compromises, resulting in the theft of more than $100 million. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York, who emphasized the severity of the crimes and their impact on vulnerable individuals.
Court Proceedings and Guilty Plea
On Friday, March 6, Van Yeboah admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before Judge Arun Subramanian at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. According to court documents, Van Yeboah played a key role in an international criminal network primarily based in Ghana that defrauded victims across the United States. Clayton stated, "Derrick Van Yeboah pled 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."
Details of the Fraud Scheme
The criminal organization executed two main types of scams: romance scams and business email compromise schemes. In the romance scams, victims, many of whom were elderly, were deceived into believing they were in genuine romantic relationships online with individuals using fake identities created by group members. After gaining trust, conspirators persuaded victims to send money or assist in laundering funds obtained from other victims. The business email compromise scams involved tricking companies into wiring money to accounts controlled by the criminal network.
Investigators revealed that the organization stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims, with proceeds eventually transferred to West Africa. Van Yeboah personally carried out several romance scams by impersonating fake romantic partners while communicating with victims online, and authorities hold him responsible for more than $10 million in losses linked to his activities.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
Under U.S. law, the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, Van Yeboah has agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $10,149,429.17. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3, 2026, marking a significant step in the legal process against this international fraud ring.
The case highlights the growing threat of online fraud schemes that exploit emotional vulnerabilities and business trust, with authorities continuing to crack down on such criminal networks to protect potential victims worldwide.
