Source: newsthemegh.com
Federal prosecutors announced Monday that Ghanaian social media influencer Hajia4Reall has been extradited from the UK to the US for allegedly defrauding elderly, single American men and women out of over $2 million in a deranged lonely hearts scam.
Mona Faiz Montrage, 30, of Accra, Ghana, appeared in federal court in Manhattan on Monday for her alleged involvement in several romance scams that preyed on elderly individuals who were living alone, according to the prosecution.
She entered a not guilty plea to the allegations, and the prosecutor’s office and her attorney both verified that she will soon be released on $500,000 bond with GPS tracking to her aunt’s New Jersey home for home detention.
The feds claim that from at least 2013 to 2019 Montrage was associated with a group of con artists from West Africa who used emails, texts, and social media posts to deceive people into thinking they were in relationships with them. At one point, Montrage’s page Hajia4Reall had about 3.4 million Instagram followers.
The group allegedly stole $2 million from victims, and Montrage received it into bank accounts she had in the Bronx and elsewhere, including one she opened under the name of the fictitious clothing company 4Reall Designs.
According to the accusation, she allegedly then transferred the funds to other business partners.
Prosecutors allege that Montrage duped one individual into believing they were married before convincing him to transfer her $89,000.
“As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams,” stated Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams in a statement.
For helpless victims, these schemes can have catastrophic financial and emotional effects.
The statement continued, “Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, Montrage was apprehended abroad and brought to the United States to face justice.”
Hajia4Reall was detained on November 10, 2022, in the UK for the alleged plot and was extradited to the US on Friday. Her Instagram account was one of the top 10 most followed in Ghana.
Montrage is accused with conspiracy, money laundering, receiving stolen property, and wire fraud. If found guilty on the main offense, she may spend up to 20 years in jail.
Adam Cortez, the attorney for Montrage, stated, “At this time, all we know is that there are six alleged victims, only two dealt with a woman, and only one of them claims that he dealt with Ms. Montrage.”
Until he receives additional details and supporting documentation from the prosecution, Cortez said he was unable to speak further.
According to the attorney, his client is currently only permitted to travel in specific areas of New York and New Jersey.