Ghanaian socialite and musician Mona Faiz Montrage, popularly known as Hajia 4Reall, is set to be released from the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia after serving a one-year and one-day prison sentence.
According to the US Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator, the 32-year-old will be freed on May 22, 2025.
Montrage was convicted for conspiracy to receive stolen money linked to a West Africa-based criminal network involved in romance scams and internet fraud.
Rising to fame through her Instagram profile “Hajia4Reall,” with over 3.4 million followers, Montrage was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States in May 2023. She pleaded guilty in February 2024 and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken on June 28, 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York revealed that the group defrauded vulnerable older Americans of over $2 million. Montrage personally received money from about 40 victims through U.S.-based bank accounts established under false pretenses.
The fraudulent claims included fees for transporting gold, resolving fabricated FBI investigations, and assisting a fake U.S. Army officer in accessing funds.
Court documents show Montrage controlled bank accounts that received more than $2 million in illicit funds. In addition to her prison term, she was sentenced to three years of supervised release, ordered to forfeit $216,475, and pay restitution amounting to $1,387,458.
Her legal team informed the court that she intends to return to Ghana and start afresh, contributing positively to society.
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