Ghanaian socialite and singer Mona Faiz Montrage, also known as Hajia4Real, has pleaded guilty to her role in laundering the proceeds of romance scams that targeted vulnerable Americans. She faces up to five years in prison for her crime.
Her counsels, Elena Fast, Esq. and Michael Perkins, Esq. of The Fast Law Firm, P.C. released a press statement on their official website:
“In May 2023, Ms. Montrage voluntarily boarded the flight from Heathrow to JFK to face the criminal case in the Southern District of New York. At that time, she took the first step to closing that chapter of her life. Today, she took responsibility for her bank accounts being used to receive funds from illicit conduct that ended in 2019. Ms. Montrage’s plea does not define her as a person and is not reflective of the individual she is today. Ms. Montrage is thankful for the support of her fans, family and legal team throughout this process.”
Mona subsequently made an Instagram post to that effect, which she captioned: “Lessons learned, we move.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mona 4reall admitted to one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L.
Mona was involved in a criminal syndicate based in West Africa that orchestrated a range of fraudulent activities, notably romance scams targeting individuals and businesses in the United States. The organisation employed deceptive tactics, including the creation of fictitious identities and online personas, to entice victims into false romantic relationships. Subsequently, they manipulated victims into sending money under false pretenses, citing reasons such as fabricated medical emergencies, travel costs, or investment opportunities.
Mona’s role was to receive the money from the victims, either through bank accounts or money transfer services, and then transfer it to other members of the group, who were located in Ghana, Nigeria, and other countries. She also used some of the money for her own personal expenses, such as travel, shopping, and entertainment.
Mona has agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution of $2,164,758.41, which is the amount of money she received from the victims. She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty on June 15, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said that Mona and her co-conspirators “preyed on the hopes and dreams of unsuspecting Americans, and then used their ill-gotten gains to fund lavish lifestyles abroad.” He added that his office and law enforcement partners are “relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are.”
Mona is a well-known figure in the Ghanaian entertainment industry. She has released several songs and videos, such as “Badder Than” and “Fine Girl.” She is also known for her extravagant lifestyle and fashion sense, which she often flaunts on social media. She has over 3 million followers on Instagram.
Her case serves as just one of the numerous instances highlighting the pervasive issue of romance scams, which have escalated into a global concern, particularly with the proliferation of online dating and social media platforms. As per the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams emerged as the most financially damaging form of consumer fraud in 2020, with reported losses exceeding $304 million, marking a staggering increase of approximately 50% from the previous
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