Social media influencer and musician Mona Faiz Montrage, widely recognized as Hajia4Reall, has publicly responded to her recent guilty plea for involvement in romance scams within a U.S. court. In a statement shared on her Instagram page on February 21, 2024, Montrage revealed that she voluntarily traveled from Heathrow to JFK in May 2023 to address the criminal charges in the Southern District of New York.
Montrage's legal team emphasized in the statement that her guilty plea should not be seen as defining her as an individual, asserting that it does not reflect the person she is today. She expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from her fans, family, and legal representatives throughout the legal proceedings.
The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) disclosed on February 21, 2024, that Montrage had pleaded guilty to receiving proceeds from a romance scam. The DoJ statement, released by Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, detailed her involvement in laundering the funds acquired through a series of romance scams.
Montrage has admitted guilt to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, facing a potential maximum prison sentence of five years under U.S. laws. Additionally, she has agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. The sentencing, to be conducted by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, is scheduled for a yet-to-be-determined date, raising questions about whether she will receive the maximum five-year sentence.
Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the gravity of Montrage's actions, noting that she knowingly received money stolen from older Americans through romance scams. Williams stressed the relentless pursuit of justice for fraudsters targeting Americans, regardless of their location. Montrage's actions, described as a cruel betrayal of trust, not only fabricated online romantic connections but also callously deprived vulnerable and elderly victims of their money.
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