Hajia 4Reall returns to music after U.S. prison release
Ghanaian socialite and musician Mona Faiz Montrage, known publicly as Hajia 4Reall, has announced her return to the music industry following her release from prison in the United States.
On June 1, 2025, Montrage released a video preview of a new track titled ‘Move.’ The song opens with the words, “Life is a testimony,” and includes references to resilience and personal recovery following her incarceration.
Montrage was released on May 22, 2025, from the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia after serving a one-year and one-day sentence. Her release was followed by immigration proceedings, after which she voluntarily returned to Ghana.
According to records from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, her conviction was related to conspiracy to receive stolen money. She was found to have been involved with a WestAfrica-based criminal network engaged in internet fraud and romance scams. U.S. court documents stated that she controlled bank accounts that received more than $2 million in fraudulent funds.
She was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States in May 2023 and subsequently pleaded guilty in February 2024. On June 28, 2024, she was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken to the prison term, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, she was ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay $1,387,458 in restitution.
Prosecutors stated that Montrage received money from approximately 40 victims, primarily older Americans, through U.S.-based bank accounts under false pretences. The fraudulent claims included assistance with gold transportation, resolving a fabricated FBI case, and helping a fictitious U.S. Army officer access funds. Her legal team negotiated a voluntary return plan to Ghana, which was approved by the court. During sentencing, her attorneys stated that she intended to start over and contribute positively to society.
