ast Law PLC, the legal representative for Hajia4Reall has clarified that she did not cooperate with US Attorney as part of her efforts to seek a reduced sentence.
In a video posted on the firm’s official Instagram page on July 4, a spokesperson categorically said Hajia4Reall did not set up a fake identity to scam anyone and di not meet with the US Attorney for a lenient sentencing.
According to her lawyers, they have gathered evidence which showed that Hajia4Reall’s images and videos were used by some people to catfish.
“We’ve been getting a lot of inquiries whether or not our client, Mona Montrage cooperated. She never met with the US Attorney and the only information that was provided in our sentencing submission was to explain how she became involved in the case.
“We have also uncovered evidence to show that her images and her video were used to catfish,” the law firm explained.
The statement from Mona’s legal team addresses recent allegations suggesting she provided information about others in exchange for a more lenient sentencing.
“Ask yourself if our client did come in and did meet with the US Attorney’s Office, do you really think they would be asking for a guideline sentence of 37 to 46 months? They wouldn’t,” she added.
Mona Montrage was sentenced on June 28, 2024 to one year and a day for her involvement in the fraud case. Prior to that, she had appealed for a reduced sentence citing her role as a single parent.
Background
In May 2023, it was reported that Hajia4Reall has been extradited from the UK to the United States to face criminal charges against her which included conspiracy to fraud and receive proceeds of over $2 million from romance scams.
According to the US Attorney, 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.
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said the Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages.
According to court documents, Hajia4Reall 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.
