Derrick Van Yeboah: Ghanaian Fraudster Jailed 85 Months in US Over $100M Romance Scam

• A 41-year-old Ghanaian national, Derrick Van Yeboah, received an 85-month federal prison sentence in the United States
• Van Yeboah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of an international fraud syndicate
• Ghanaian authorities, including EOCO, the Ghana Police Service and the Cyber Security Authority cooperated in his extradition

A 41-year-old Ghanaian national known as Derrick Van Yeboah has been handed an 85-month federal prison sentence in the United States after being convicted for his part in an international fraud ring that siphoned more than $100 million from victims in the US.

Derrick Van Yeboah, who is also linked to Ghanaian businessman Kofi Boat, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian following a guilty plea entered on 5 March 2026 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Beyond the custodial term, the court ordered Van Yeboah to serve two years of supervised release upon completion of his sentence and to forfeit a staggering $10,149,429.17 in proceeds tied to the scheme.

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The United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, confirmed his sentencing in a press release on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

How Van Yeboah's Fraud Syndicate Operated

The criminal network Van Yeboah belonged to used two primary methods to defraud victims: romance scams, where operatives built false emotional relationships online before requesting money.

The syndicate also used business email compromise schemes, in which fraudsters impersonated company executives or suppliers to trick businesses into transferring funds to accounts they controlled.

The operation was extensive enough to generate losses exceeding $100 million, drawing the attention of American federal prosecutors who pursued Van Yeboah across international borders.

Ghana-US Cooperation Led to His Extradition

Van Yeboah was extradited from Ghana to the United States on 7 August 2025 following coordinated efforts between the U.S. Department of Justice and several Ghanaian agencies, including the Office of the Attorney-General, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service–INTERPOL unit, the Cyber Security Authority, and the National Intelligence Bureau.

The case highlights the growing willingness of Ghanaian institutions to collaborate with foreign law enforcement on cybercrime and financial fraud prosecutions.

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Source: YEN.com.gh