Accra: The United States of America Embassy in Ghana has officially released photos of convicted Ghanaian national, Derrick Van Yeboah, who pleaded guilty to his role in a $100 million romance scam that targeted US nationals.
According to Ghana Web, the images were released on the embassy's X page on Friday, March 13, 2026. They depict the moment Derrick Van Yeboah was extradited to the United States in 2025, accompanied by two FBI officials. In the photos, Yeboah can be seen wearing an orange shirt, paired with blue jeans and black sneakers, while in chains and handcuffs.
This development follows seven months of trial in the US, where Yeboah admitted to his role in the scheme after prolonged court proceedings. It is noteworthy that Derrick Van Yeboah, along with two other Ghanaians, Isaac Oduro Boateng, known as Kofi Boat, and Insuah Ahmed, known as Pascal, were extradited to the US for allegedly operating a notorious scam syndicate called 'The Enterprise.'
A recent statement published on the official website of the US Department of Justice, and highlighted by GhanaWeb on March 6, 2026, reveals that Derrick Van Yeboah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before US District Judge Arun Subramanian. The statement, issued by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that Yeboah was involved in a criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims through romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
Further details in the statement indicate that Van, aged 40, personally conducted many of the romance scams by impersonating fake romantic partners in communications with victims, most of whom were elderly women and men.
Jay Clayton emphasized, "Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women through 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. 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."
The statement further noted that Derrick Van Yeboah's guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. It also stated that Van agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, both amounting to $10,149,429.17.