Popular Ghanaian social media personality Mona Faiz Montrage, widely known as Hajia4Reall, is set to be released today after serving a one-year jail sentence in the United States following her conviction for conspiracy to receive stolen money in connection with a multi-million-dollar romance scam network that targeted elderly victims across America.
Montrage’s release was confirmed through the Federal Inmate Search – USA Inmate Locator, which lists her official release date as 22 May 2025.
The 31-year-old influencer, who once commanded a following of over 3.4 million on Instagram and was among Ghana’s top online celebrities, was arrested and extradited to the US following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Romance Scams and Fraud Enterprise
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, Montrage was a key participant in a West Africa-based criminal enterprise that operated romance scams and financial fraud schemes between 2013 and 2019. Many of the victims were vulnerable, elderly Americans who were manipulated into believing they were in online romantic relationships with fictitious personas.
Using emails, texts, and social media messages, members of the enterprise deceived victims into sending large sums of money to accounts they believed were controlled by their supposed romantic partners. In reality, these bank accounts were under the control of enterprise members, including Montrage.
Investigators revealed that Montrage personally received funds from several victims under various false pretences. These included supposed payments to facilitate the transport of gold to the US, settle a fictitious FBI investigation, and assist a fake U.S. Army officer in accessing funds from Afghanistan.
In total, Montrage controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraud proceeds.
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Montrage pleaded guilty in February 2024 to one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. The offence carries a maximum prison sentence of five years, although Montrage ultimately served one year.
As part of her plea agreement, she accepted to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and pay an equivalent amount in restitution to the victims of the fraud.
Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at the time of her guilty plea:
“Mona Faiz Montrage knowingly received money stolen from older Americans through romance scams and now faces serious consequences for her actions. Romance scams such as Montrage’s harmed her vulnerable, elderly victims not only in the cruel betrayal of trust… but also callously stealing their money.”
It is unclear where Montrage will reside following her release, though she is a citizen of Ghana and previously lived in Accra.
