Mona Faiz Montrage, also known as Hajia 4reall, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for her involvement in a series of romance scams and money laundering schemes.

Mona Faiz Montrage, known as Hajia 4reall, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison after pleading guilty to her involvement in romance scams targeting vulnerable senior citizens. Over a span of six years, 32 victims lost approximately $1.4 million to these schemes, with Montrage laundering the proceeds through multiple bank accounts opened in her name.

During the sentencing in New York overseen by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken, the Assistant U.S. Attorney emphasized the severity of Montrage’s actions and the devastating impact on the victims. “The victims, vulnerable senior citizens, were promised marriage and subsequently defrauded of their money,” stated the prosecutor. In defense, Montrage’s legal team argued for leniency, citing her abusive relationship with a former boyfriend also involved in the scams.

Expressing remorse in court, Montrage tearfully stated, “I want to repay them. I feel shame as a mother of an 8-year-old daughter. Please have mercy on me.”

Judge Oetken sentenced Montrage to one year and one day in prison, with the possibility of reducing her sentence through “good time” credit. Additionally, she agreed to pay $2,164,758.41 in forfeiture and restitution.

Given her sentence, Montrage’s defense requested that she be allowed to return to Ghana immediately upon release to avoid potential detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a request to which the prosecution consented.

The case has attracted significant attention in Ghana, with widespread interest in the proceedings. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stressed the need for a sentence that would deter such crimes, considering Montrage’s media influence in Ghana.

Montrage’s sentencing underscores the serious consequences of involvement in romance scams and underscores ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat such fraudulent activities. The outcome aims to send a strong message about the importance of ethical conduct and the legal repercussions of fraudulent behavior.