Federal prosecutors say Derrick Van Yeboah did not just break hearts. They allege the Ghanaian national, extradited to the United States last year, helped run a sweeping online romance and business-email scam that preyed on vulnerable New Yorkers and other victims across the country, ultimately laundering more than $100 million.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the case is part of a broader crackdown on criminal networks that pair fake online relationships with sophisticated payment schemes aimed largely at elderly and otherwise vulnerable people.
On March 5, 2026, the office took to X to underscore its stance on the ongoing prosecution, writing that “Van Yeboah exploited vulnerable New Yorkers and others with romance scams,” and quoting U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton: “These are cruel, greed-driven crimes that New Yorkers want eliminated and their perpetrators off the streets,” according to U.S. Attorney SDNY.
Van Yeboah exploited vulnerable New Yorkers and others with romance scams. “These are cruel, greed-driven crimes that New Yorkers want eliminated and their perpetrators off the streets.” March 5, 2026
Background: Indictment and extradition
The indictment, unsealed Aug. 8, 2025, names four defendants: Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, Derrick Van Yeboah and Patrick Kwame Asare. It states that Boateng, Ahmed and Van Yeboah were extradited from Ghana in August 2025.
Prosecutors say the men were part of a Ghana-based criminal organization that used fake online profiles and business-email compromise schemes to steal and launder more than $100 million from victims across the United States. The case is being handled by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the Southern District of New York, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
How investigators say the schemes worked
According to the indictment and related filings, members of the ring allegedly built fake personas online, engaged victims in extended conversations and slowly groomed them with affection and urgent personal stories. Once trust was established, prosecutors say, the scammers pushed for cash, wire transfers or loans. Some victims were allegedly steered into buying cryptocurrency or using sham trading platforms.
Consumer guides and victim-support organizations describe this pattern as a blend of “love-bombing” and so-called “pig-butchering” scams, in which fraudsters overwhelm targets with attention, then pressure them into sending money through hard-to-trace channels. For a breakdown of common tactics and recovery resources, see reporting by AARP.
By the numbers
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded 17,910 confidence and romance scam complaints in 2024, with at least $672,009,052 in reported losses. Overall, IC3 says reported internet-crime losses topped $16.6 billion that year. That national backdrop helps explain why authorities leaned on extraditions and international cooperation in the Van Yeboah case, according to IC3.
Legal implications and next steps
The unsealed indictment charges the defendants with wire-fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money-laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to receive stolen money and receipt of stolen money. Several of those counts carry statutory maximum sentences of up to 20 years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The prosecution remains pending in federal court in Manhattan. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
What victims should do
Authorities and advocacy groups say that if you suspect you or someone you care about has been caught up in a romance or crypto scam, acting quickly is critical. First, save and document all communications, including emails, texts, chat logs and payment records. Then contact your bank or financial institution right away to flag suspicious transfers or account activity.
Victims are also urged to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Both AARP’s Fraud Watch Network and the FBI provide hotlines and support services for people who have been targeted. For step-by-step reporting guidance and recovery resources, see AARP and IC3.
