In recent entertainment news, Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage, popularly known as Hajia 4Reall, was sentenced today, as reported by Inner City Press.
Despite her lawyers’ pleas for a three-month prison term, the judge handed down a sentence of one year and one day. The judge explained, “I sentence Ms. Montrage to one year and one day in prison, the extra day to allow ‘good time.'”
In addition to the 1-year one day prison sentence, Hajia 4Reall was also ordered to pay over $8 million in restitution to her victims. The judge emphasized the serious nature of the crime, noting that the romance scam had devastated the lives of many innocent people who had been taken advantage of.
ALSO READ: HAJIA4REAL IMPLICATES BABY DADDY IN ROMANCE SCAM TRIAL
Hajia 4Reall’s defense team had proposed that she be allowed to return to Ghana immediately upon her release, without any detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Her legal team had initially requested a shorter sentence, emphasizing her role as a single mother and her essential presence in her child’s life. However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued for a full 37-month term, citing similar cases and the need for a deterrent.
Hajia 4Reall faced charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering. She was implicated in a $2 million romance scam, during which she allegedly communicated multiple times with one of her victims and received wire transfers totaling $89,000, supposedly to fund her father’s farm. Her arrest in the United Kingdom led to her extradition to the United States to face these charges.
Following the sentencing, the Fast Law Firm, which represented Hajia 4Reall, broke their silence on social media, stating, “After a 1.5-hour sentencing, U.S. v. Mona Montrage, 22 cr 617 (JPO) comes to a close. Our client was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day, over the Government’s request for 37 to 46 months of incarceration. We are incredibly proud of the advocacy done on our client’s behalf and the result achieved. Our client will be issuing a statement when she is ready.”
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