Hajia4Reall ‘snitched’ on popular musician, big politician, big businessman to get lighter sentence – Report

Nigerian media personality, Dr Kemi Olunloyo has alleged that social media influencer and musician Mona Faiz Montrage, widely recognized as Hajia4Reall gave out details of some prominent individuals involved in the romance scam she has pleaded guilty to.

Dr Kemi Olunloyo not indicate the exact names of the individuals who Hajia4Reall allegedly snitched on.

“One is a popular musician, One is a famous actor, One is a big big politician, One is a very big businessman in the hospitality industry. All Ghanaian,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

She continued: “Nothing shocks me anymore when I heard the names. Can’t tell you as it’s confidential and I’m no longer in journalism.

In view of this, she is of the assertion Hajia4Reall may not spend five years in prison after admitting guilt to receiving proceeds from a romance scam.

Montrage has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, which could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison under U.S. laws.

But according to Dr Kemi Olunloyo, information privy to her indicates that Hajia4Reall will receive a 3-year jail term.

“My FBI guy in the Hushpuppi and Woodberry case told me today that Mona will likely get 3 years in prison. She’s facing 5yrs. Why? She did a good plea deal as she has snitched. Remember I told you last year she vows Ghana will “shake”” Dr Kemi added.

She noted that Hajia4Reall “was just the middle woman in the romance scam.”

Hajia4Reall has agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount.

The sentencing will be determined by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty at a later date, raising questions about whether she will receive the maximum five-year sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damian 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.  Romance scams such as Montrage’s harmed her vulnerable, elderly victims not only in the cruel betrayal of trust in the realization that their online romantic connection was fiction, but by also callously stealing their money.  This Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are.”

As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:

From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, MONTRAGE was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in West Africa that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the U.S., including romance scams.

Many of the Enterprise’s romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone. The Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships with a person who was, in fact, a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise.

Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise.

MONTRAGE is a Ghanaian public figure who rose to fame as an influencer through her Instagram profile under the username “Hajia4Reall,” which at one point had approximately 3.4 million Instagram followers and was among the top 10 profiles with the most followers in Ghana.

MONTRAGE received money from several victims of romance frauds who members of the Enterprise tricked into sending money.  Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to MONTRAGE were payments to transport gold to the U.S. from overseas payments to resolve a fake FBI investigation, and payments to assist a fake U.S. Army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.

In total, MONTRAGE controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise.