Hajia 4 Reall Pleads Guilty to Romance Scam, Faces Consequences in the U.S.
Shocking news has emerged as Ghanaian influencer Hajia 4 Reall, also known as Mona Faiz Montrage, has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a series of romance scams, according to reports from the United States Attorney’s Office.
Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced on February 21st, 2024, that Mona Faiz Montrage has admitted guilt to her role in laundering the proceeds of romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly older Americans.
In an official statement, Williams remarked, “Mona Faiz Montrage knowingly received money stolen from older Americans through romance scams and was arrested abroad and now faces serious consequences for her actions.”
Romance scams, like those perpetrated by Montrage, inflict significant harm on victims, not only through the loss of money but also through the betrayal of trust. The victims, often elderly and living alone, are deceived into believing they are in genuine romantic relationships, only to discover it was a cruel fiction.
“This Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are,” Williams affirmed, highlighting the commitment to combating such crimes.
Hajia 4 Reall has admitted guilt to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Additionally, she has agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. Sentencing will be carried out by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
According to U.S. prosecutors, from at least 2013 to 2019, Hajia 4 Reall was part of a criminal enterprise based in West Africa that perpetrated various frauds against individuals and businesses in the U.S., including romance scams. The victims, often vulnerable older individuals, were duped into sending money under false pretenses, including payments for transporting gold overseas.
In total, Hajia 4 Reall controlled a bank account that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the enterprise, signaling the scale of the deception and the magnitude of the consequences she now faces.