On Thursday, March 5, 2026, 40-year-old Ghanaian national Derrick Van Yeboah (known as “Van”) pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court for his senior role in an international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from U.S. victims.
Yeboah admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, specifically targeting vulnerable elderly individuals and businesses through sophisticated romance scams and Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes.
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Key Details of the Fraud Scheme
The criminal network, based primarily in Ghana, operated a massive fraud enterprise between 2016 and May 2023.
Personal Impact: Yeboah was personally linked to at least $10.1 million in losses.
"Sakawa Boys": The organization—whose members referred to themselves as "game boys" or "sakawa boys"—used social engineering and emotional manipulation to exploit victims, many of whom were older Americans seeking companionship.
BEC Attacks: The ring also used "spoofed" email addresses to impersonate corporate executives and suppliers, tricking U.S. companies into wiring millions of dollars to accounts controlled by the conspiracy.
Money Laundering: Fraud proceeds were laundered through a network of middlemen and shell companies in the U.S. before being funneled back to high-ranking "chairmen" in West Africa.
Extradition and Legal Consequences
Yeboah was one of several high-ranking members brought to justice through close international cooperation.
The Extradition: Following a joint operation between the FBI and Ghanaian authorities, Yeboah arrived in the United States on August 7, 2025, alongside co-defendants Isaac Oduro Boateng ("Kofi Boat") and Inusah Ahmed ("Pascal").
The Penalty: Yeboah faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Sentencing: U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian is scheduled to sentence Yeboah on June 3, 2026.
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