Hajia4Real, the popular Ghanaian musician and social media influencer, whose real name is Mona Faiz Montrage, has recently been repatriated from the United Kingdom to the United States. She is facing allegations of swindling over $2 million from older, single American men and women in a disturbing lonely hearts scam. Federal prosecutors made this announcement on Monday, May 15, 2023.
According to the New York Post, Hajia4Real appeared in Manhattan federal court on Monday, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. She is expected to be released in the coming days upon posting a $500,000 bond. However, as part of her release conditions, she will be required to wear an ankle monitor with GPS tracking.
Federal authorities have revealed that Montrage was involved in a network of fraudsters from Ghana and Nigeria. These individuals used deceptive tactics, assuming false identities to create the illusion of romantic relationships with their victims through emails, text messages, and social media communications.
Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams expressed his views on the case, stating, "As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams. These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims. Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, Montrage was arrested abroad and has been brought to the United States to face justice."
One specific case highlighted in court papers details how Hajia4Real allegedly deceived a victim into sending her a staggering $89,000 through 82 wire transfers. She claimed that the funds were for her father's farm in Ghana. The documents further revealed that she even went as far as sending the victim a tribal marriage certificate to validate their fabricated marital status, after engaging in phone conversations using her real identity.
Prosecutors argue that Montrage received funds from several other victims who were deceived by the scams orchestrated by her network of fraudsters. The total amount accumulated by her is estimated to be around $2 million, which was subsequently deposited into bank accounts held by her in various locations, including one under the guise of 4Reall Designs, a fictitious clothing company. The stolen funds were then laundered to other individuals involved in the criminal enterprise, according to the indictment.
It is worth noting that earlier news reports about her arrest in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and her initial sentencing were later debunked by her team. Hajia4Real was eventually extradited to the United States to face charges of wire fraud, money laundering, receipt of stolen money, and conspiracy.
If found guilty of the most severe charge, she could potentially face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
In all, Hajia4Real, a well-known Ghanaian musician and social media influencer, has been repatriated to the United States from the United Kingdom to face allegations of participating in a romance scam that targeted older, single Americans. She has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting release upon posting bail. The prosecution claims that she swindled over $2 million from her victims and laundered the funds through various accounts. The case highlights the devastating financial and emotional impact of such scams on vulnerable individuals.
HOT VIDEO TODAY: Best Cheaters Caught On Camera And Their Reactions
