The Fast Law Firm PLC has expressed contentment with the sentencing decision for their client, Hajia4Reall.
On June 29, 2024, Hajia4Reall received a sentence of a year and a day in jail after a lengthy trial with the US government that began in 2022.
The case involved a romance fraud scheme that defrauded around $2 million from forty victims, primarily elderly men.
In response to the sentencing, Hajia4Reall's legal team approved of the one-year sentence, which was lighter than the government's request for 37 to 46 months of incarceration.
The Fast Law Firm PLC shared on social media:
"After a 1.5-hour sentencing, U.S. v. Mona Montrage, 22 cr 617 (JPO) concludes. Our client was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day, less than the government's request for 37 to 46 months of incarceration. We are incredibly proud of the advocacy done on our client's behalf and the result achieved."
They also mentioned that Hajia4Reall will release a statement on the matter soon.
Background:
Mona Faiz Montrage, also known as Hajia4Reall/Mona4Reall, was extradited from the UK to the US on charges related to a romance scam totaling $2 million aimed at older, single Americans. The 30-year-old musician and businesswoman first appeared in Manhattan federal court on May 15, 2022.
Details of the case revealed that Hajia4Reall had five foreign bank accounts, where she collected funds from over forty victims through fictitious business entities in three banks in the Bronx, New York.
She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money, one of seven charges that included attempted wire fraud, money laundering, and felony offenses. The guilty plea carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The court also permitted Hajia4Reall to surrender properties valued at $2,164,758.41 instead of monetary restitution for the stolen funds under the conspiracy charge.
EB/OGB
