Ghanaian Celebrity Hajia4Reall Pleads Guilty in $2M US Romance
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage, widely known as Hajia4Reall, has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a $2 million romance scam case, as revealed by the United States Attorney’s Office on Wednesday. The socialite admitted guilt to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
As part of the plea agreement, Hajia4Reall has agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. The sentencing for the case is scheduled to be conducted by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, with the date yet to be announced.
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, emphasized the seriousness of the crime and noted that Mona Faiz Montrage knowingly accepted money stolen from older Americans through romance scams, leading to significant legal consequences.
Williams highlighted the impact of the scam on vulnerable elderly victims who were deceived into believing they had genuine romantic connections online, only to discover they were victims of fraud.
The socialite-turned-musician was extradited to the United States from the United Kingdom in May 2023 over her alleged involvement in the romance scam, targeting older, single Americans. The charges included conspiracy to commit and committing wire fraud and money laundering, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.
The prosecution revealed that Hajia4Reall, along with others, conducted romance scams by deceiving victims into believing they were in romantic relationships with fake identities. The socialite received money from victims who were tricked into sending funds through various false pretenses.
Initially pleading not guilty to all charges, Hajia4Reall was released on bail, but her recent guilty plea indicates a shift in the legal proceedings.
