Ghanaian socialite and influencer Mona Faiz Montrage, known as Hajia 4Reall, and her legal team have responded to a recent court ruling regarding her case in the Southern District of New York.

In a statement, her lawyers acknowledged her guilty plea for receiving fraud proceeds from romance scams in 2019. They emphasized that her actions at that time do not define who she is today.

The court ruling, detailed by Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, outlined Mona Faiz Montrage’s guilty plea to conspiracy to receive stolen money related to romance scams. The scams targeted vulnerable, older individuals and were orchestrated by a criminal enterprise based in West Africa.

Mona Faiz Montrage, known as “Hajia4Reall” on Instagram, admitted guilt to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, facing a maximum sentence of five years in prison. She is required to pay forfeiture of $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. Sentencing will be conducted by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.

Hajia 4Reall’s legal team reiterated her commitment to her current self despite the court’s decision, emphasizing that her past actions should not define her character today.