Ghanaian socialite Hajia4Reall, whose real name is Mona Faiz Montrage has bagged one and one day in prison for her involvement in a $2 million romance scam.
More importantly, she has agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. Following her release, the defence suggested that Montrage be permitted to return to Ghana immediately to avoid detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a proposal to which the Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) agreed.
The Judge included an extra day in her sentence to account for “good time,” as per Inner City Press on X (Twitter).
Montrage pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money in the Manhattan Federal Court on February 21. Federal authorities revealed that she oversaw bank accounts that received more than $2 million in fraudulent funds.
These funds were acquired by tricking victims, often elderly and vulnerable, into thinking they were in romantic relationships with fake identities.
The scams involved false assurances of moving gold to the US, resolving fake FBI investigations, and aiding fictitious US Army officers in Afghanistan.
One victim was swindled into sending $89,000 through 82 wire transfers after Montrage convinced them that her father’s farm in Ghana required financial aid.
She even provided 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’s legal issues began in May 2023 when she was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States.
She was facing various charges, such as conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, as well as receipt of stolen money with a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Initially, she pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, maintaining her innocence in public statements. The US Attorney’s Office stressed their dedication to holding fraudsters accountable.
“This Office and our law enforcement partners are unwavering in our pursuit of fraudsters who prey on Americans, regardless of their location,” stated Attorney Williams.
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