Mona Faiz Montrage, a popular Ghanaian social media influencer known as Hajia4Reall, is currently facing serious charges in a Manhattan Federal Court, as confirmed by the United States Attorney’s Office in a statement released on May 15, 2023.
Hajia4Reall was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States on allegations of orchestrating a romance scam that targeted older, single American individuals, resulting in a swindled amount of over US$2 million.
According to the statement, Mona4Reall made her appearance in court on Monday, May 15, 2023, regarding her alleged involvement in a series of schemes that specifically preyed on vulnerable individuals living alone.
The New York Post reported that the socialite pleaded not guilty to the charges and is expected to be released in the coming days upon posting a $500,000 bond, subject to GPS tracking through an ankle monitor.
Her attorney, Adam Cortez, confirmed to The Post that Mona received funds from various victims who were scammed by others within her network. She is being charged with wire fraud, money laundering, receipt of stolen money, and conspiracy.
If convicted on the primary charge, Montrage could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. According to court documents, she was involved with a group of confidence tricksters from West Africa between 2013 and 2019.
The scammers employed various deceitful tactics to convince victims to transfer money, such as false claims of helping transport gold from overseas to the US, resolving fictitious FBI investigations, and supporting alleged US Army officers stationed in Afghanistan.
Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams, in a statement shared by the New York Post, expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of law enforcement partners in apprehending Montrage abroad and bringing her to the United States to face legal consequences. He emphasized the devastating financial and emotional impact these scams have on vulnerable victims.
Cortez specified that his client’s movements are restricted to specific areas within New York and New Jersey while awaiting the outcome of her case.
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