Ghanaian socialite and influencer Mona Faiz Montrage, popularly known as Hajia4Reall, is set to be released from a U.S. prison today after serving a one-year jail term for her role in a transnational romance scam operation.
Hajia4Reall was convicted in 2023 after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges related to a scheme that targeted vulnerable individuals, primarily older Americans, through fake online relationships. According to U.S. prosecutors, the scam defrauded victims of over $2 million, with Montrage reportedly receiving large sums under the pretense of romantic involvement.
Her sentencing followed an international investigation involving U.S. law enforcement and Ghanaian authorities. Montrage was arrested in the United Kingdom in 2022 and later extradited to the United States to face trial in the Southern District of New York.
At her sentencing hearing, Hajia4Reall expressed remorse and promised to use her experience to educate others about the dangers of online fraud. The court also ordered her to forfeit assets and repay a portion of the funds to the victims.
With her expected release today, there is growing public interest in how the former social media star will re-enter society, particularly in Ghana where she had amassed a large following prior to her arrest. While some supporters are expressing hope for her rehabilitation, others remain critical, viewing her case as emblematic of a larger issue of cyber fraud involving West African nationals.
The U.S. Department of Justice has not yet issued a formal statement regarding her release, but sources close to the matter confirm that she will be deported to Ghana in the coming days.
