Popularly known as Hajia4Reall, social media personality, Mona Faiz Montrage has pleaded guilty in a $2 million romance scam case.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office website, the socialite pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money.
This charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Hajia4Reall also agreed to pay forfeiture for $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount.
The social media personality is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge, Paul A. Crotty later.
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, announced the guilty plea.
Attorney Williams said, “Mona Faiz Montrage knowingly received money stolen from older Americans through romance scams and was arrested abroad and now faces serious consequences for her actions.”
He insisted that the romance scam harmed vulnerable, elderly victims who had to face the tough reality that their romantic connections online were fake.
“This Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are,” the Attorney added.
Hajia4Reall was extradited to the United States from the United Kingdom over her alleged involvement in a $2 million romance scam locally called ‘sakawa’ targeting older, single Americans, in May 2023.
Prosecutors said she was charged with conspiracy to commit and committing wire fraud and money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.
