The sentencing for Mona Faiz Montrage, popularly known as Hajia4Reall, has concluded in the United States. Montrage, a Ghanaian social media personality, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for her role in a $2 million romance scam.
The additional day in her sentence was to allow for “good time,” according to the Judge, as reported by Inner City Press on X (Twitter).
In the Manhattan Federal Court, Montrage pleaded guilty on February 21 to conspiracy to receive stolen money. Federal authorities disclosed that Montrage managed bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds.
These funds were obtained by deceiving victims, often elderly and vulnerable, into believing they were in romantic relationships with fictitious personas. The scams included false promises to move gold to the US, resolve supposed FBI investigations, and assist fake US Army officers in Afghanistan.
One victim was duped into sending $89,000 through 82 wire transfers after Montrage convinced them that her father’s farm in Ghana needed financial assistance. She even sent a tribal marriage certificate to make the victim believe they were married, using her real identity in a series of phone conversations.
“Romance scams such as Montrage’s harmed her vulnerable, elderly victims not only in the cruel betrayal of trust in the realization that their online romantic connection was fiction, but also by callously stealing their money,” stated Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams.
Montrage has agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. Upon release, the defense proposed that Montrage be allowed to return to Ghana immediately, avoiding detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to which the Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) consented.
Montrage’s legal troubles began in May 2023 when she was extradited to the United States from the United Kingdom. She faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, and receipt of stolen money with a maximum sentence of 10 years. Initially, she pleaded not guilty and was released on bail, maintaining her innocence in public statements.
The US Attorney’s Office emphasized their commitment to bringing fraudsters to justice. “This Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are,” said Attorney Williams.
Montrage’s sentencing marks a significant development in the efforts to combat international fraud schemes targeting vulnerable individuals in the United States.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
