NEW YORK, United States — A Ghanaian man has pleaded guilty to his role in an international criminal organisation that stole more than US$100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises.

Derrick Van Yeboah, 40, pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before United States (US) District Judge Arun Subramanian.

“Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams,” said US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton.

Clayton added, “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 US$10 million in illicit profit.”

Prosecutors allege that once members of the conspiracy had gained the trust of their victims, they deceived those victims into sending their money to the enterprise or into helping them launder funds from other victims.

The prosecutors also noted that the conspirators also committed business email compromises to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds to the enterprise.

After stealing the money, the fraud proceeds were then laundered to West Africa.

“Van Yeboah personally perpetrated many of the romance scams by impersonating fake romantic partners in communications with victims.  He is being held responsible for more than US$10 million he stole from victims via his romance scams,” prosecutors noted.

Scheduled to be sentenced on June 3, 2026, the Ghanaian faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and has also agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, both in the amount of US$10,149,429.17.

Clayton warned that the plea was a reminder to be vigilant online—especially on dating websites and urged US residents never to give money to someone they had just met, noting that “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is”.