An African woman who was residing in the United Kingdom has been extradited to the United States after being charged as the alleged mastermind behind a massive romance scam that has tricked many Americans in search of love out of their money.
The Department of Justice contends the scheme zeroed in on older men and women.
Federal prosecutors allege that Mona Faiz Montrage, 30, stole over $2 million by working with a group of West African criminals in an identity fraud circle.
She has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Montrage is also charged with one count of being in receipt of stolen money, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which could land her five years in prison.
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Federal prosecutors say the posse would collectively trick elderly people who were looking for love in all the wrong social media places by sending them emails, texts, and direct messages that proclaimed their love.
The prominent Ghanaian influencer, who has over 3.4 million followers on Instagram and is one of Ghana’s top 10 profiles in followers, was arrested in the U.K. on Nov. 10, 2022, and extradited on May 12. After spending the weekend in U.S. custody, Montrage stood before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty on Monday, May 15.
“As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a DOJ statement released on May 15. “These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable…
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