Pilgrim 4Reall (ph)
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage aka Hajia 4Reallhas been condemned to UNITED STATES to one year and one day in prison for his role in a $2 million romance scam and laundering of the proceeds.
The judgment was delivered on Friday, June 28, 2024 in New York at UNITED STATES. Hajia 4Reallknown for her social media presence, was arrested in connection with a $2 million romance scam in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and extradited to the United States on May 12, 2023.
When delivering the verdict, the deputy prosecutor UNITED STATES underlined the seriousness of the young lady’s actions and their impact on the victims, who are vulnerable elderly people.
Facts
Hajia 4Reall has been involved in romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly people, promising them marriage and then swindling them out of their money.
Over six years, 32 victims lost approximately $1.4 million. Hajia 4Reall laundered the proceeds through several bank accounts she opened in her name.
Charges and conviction
The charges against the Ghanaian influencer are conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. She pleaded guilty to the charges on February 21, 2024, before Judge Sarah L. Cave.
The defense of Hajia 4Reall argued for a 3-month prison sentence, emphasizing her role as a single mother and imperative presence in her child’s life. However, the US prosecutor argued for a total term of 37 months, citing similar cases and emphasizing the need for an appropriate deterrent measure.
After being convicted, she agreed to pay more than $2.16 million in forfeiture and restitution. She expressed her remorse in court, saying: “I want to pay them back. I feel shame as a mother of an eight-year-old girl. Please have mercy on me,” before breaking down in tears.
The defense proposed that their client be allowed to return immediately to Ghana, thus avoiding detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The assistant prosecutor consented to the request.
In all, the Ghanaian influencer’s conviction aims to send a strong message about the importance of integrity and the legal repercussions of fraud targeting vulnerable people in the United States.
Mensah,
Permanent correspondent of KOACI at GhanaTogo and Nigeria
– Contact the editorial staff of koaci.com (+228) 98 95 28 38 or [email protected] –
Par Koaci
