Ghanaian influencer Hajia4Real jailed in the U.S.A for romance fraud
28th June 2024
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage, known as Hajia4Real, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison by a U.S. court for her role in a series of romance scams.
The additional day was included to allow for "good time" credit.
During the sentencing, the defense requested that Montrage be allowed to return to Ghana immediately upon her release, avoiding ICE detention.
Montrage, addressing the court, expressed deep remorse, stating, "I want to pay them back. I feel shame as a mother of an 8-year-old daughter. Please have mercy on me," before breaking into sobs.
The judge, however, emphasized the gravity of her actions, stating that she will be deported after serving her sentence.
The defense argued for a reduced sentence of three months, claiming that Montrage was unaware the funds deposited into her accounts were proceeds from romance fraud.
The judge countered this argument by pointing out that Montrage had created multiple bank accounts.
The prosecution highlighted that Montrage had opened these accounts at various banks over a significant period, stressing the need for general deterrence given the case's high profile in Ghana.
They revealed that Victim-1 had tracked Montrage through her Instagram photos and identified her despite a voice being dubbed over in a video.
Montrage's participation in the scam spanned six years, resulting in losses of $1.4 million to 32 victims.
Throughout this time, Montrage had reinvented herself as a prominent figure in Ghana.