In an official statement from the United States Attorney’s Office, Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, declared on February 21, 2024, that Mona Faiz Montrage, publicly known as Hajia 4 Reall, has entered a guilty plea in connection with her involvement in laundering proceeds from a series of romance scams.
Mr. Williams emphasized the unwavering commitment of his office and law enforcement partners in relentlessly pursuing and bringing to justice individuals engaged in fraudulent activities targeting Americans, regardless of their location.
The U.S. Attorney concluded, “This Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are.”
Hajia 4Reall pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money, a charge carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Additionally, as part of the plea agreement, the Ghanaian influencer has consented to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and committed to making restitution in the same amount so in total she is willing to pay $ 4,329,516.
The sentencing for Hajia 4 Reall is scheduled to be presided over by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
What to Know
Hajia 4Reall was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United in May 2023. The feds claimed that Hajia was part of a network of scam artists who prey on those looking for love and affection and are vulnerable by sending out emails, texts, and social media posts under false names to make them believe they are in a relationship.
According to court findings, Hajia 4real deceived a victim in one instance into transferring her 89,000 US dollars over 82 wire transfers under the pretense that she was supporting her father’s farm in Ghana.
After many phone chats using her true identity, Hajia reportedly misled the victim into thinking they were married by giving him a tribal marriage certificate.
Hajia had 2 million dollars from the members of the group who ripped money from victims to a bank account in the Bronx and other places, including one opened in the name of 4Reall Designs. She then laundered the money to other members of the scam group.
Despite her efforts to remain undetected on November 10, 2022, she was detained in the UK for the alleged plot and extradited to the US.
She was charged with conspiracy, money laundering, receiving stolen property, and wire fraud. If found guilty of the most serious allegation, she may spend up to 20 years in jail.
According to her attorney and the prosecutor’s office, Montrage entered a not guilty plea at her court appearance and was scheduled to be freed on a ＄500,000 bail, with GPS tracking through an ankle monitor, to live in home detention at her aunt’s New Jersey house in the next days
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