- Legal professional Amanda Clinton shares her thoughts on Hajia4Reall’s guilty plea in US romance fraud case
- Sharing her legal opinion with YEN.com.gh, Lawyer Clinton noted that the guilty plea was the best advice Hajia4Reall’s legal representatives could have given her considering her circumstances
- Elaborating on potential aggravating factors prosecutors will argue for and mitigating factors the defense will push, he predicted a possible four-year term for Hajia4Reall
Ghanaian lawyer Amanda Clinton has delved into Hajia4Reall’s $2 million romance fraud case in the US and the socialite’s decision to plead guilty.
Attorney Clinton appears to agree with the advice of Hajia4Reall’s legal representatives that led to her appeal, saying it was a good choice given the facts of the case.
Hajia4Reall, born Mona Faiz Montrage, faces prosecution in the US from May 2023. Initially arrested in the UK in November 2022, she was extradited to America six months later to face prosecution.
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Hajia4Reall pleads guilty and faces 5 years in prison
Many months later, on February 21, 2024, it emerged that the The 31-year-old had admitted his guilt on one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. She also agreed to pay forfeiture for $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount as part of her plea.
Amanda Clinton rejects Hajia4Reall’s guilty plea
In a conversation with YEN.com.ghAmanda Clinton suggested that Hajia4Reall would have been impaled and given a long sentence if she had not been advised to plead guilty.
According to her, the charges she faces fall under the category of “unjust enrichment” lawsuits, the simplest cases for which she can be tried.
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He explained that all the prosecution needed to do was identify the real name of the perpetrator, Hajia4Reall, in this case, and show a paper trail and financial assets available for recovery.
“Conviction and financial compensation are straightforward in cases of ‘unjust enrichment’ or ‘deception by false pretenses’, when the true identity of the offender is revealed, there is evidence of bank and other transfers and a paper showing the offender’s fraudulent intent against the commission of the act. ,” he said.
He noted that Hajia4Reall’s legal team knew that their client could easily be identified and linked to a paper trail, hence the decision to plead guilty, adding that it should have been a plea deal considering the previous charges she was facing .
For attorney Clinton, Hajia4Reall’s voluntary flight from London to New York to face the prosecution must have contributed to her:
“…obtaining a plea agreement in which the charges were reduced from six original charges to one charge.”
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“The voluntary flight was mentioned in a press release from his legal team posted on his Instagram on February 21, 2024. The voluntary submission saves time for US officials who would otherwise have to prepare an extradition offer even if he had already been arrested by authorities in United Kingdom at the request of the FBI. In terms of mitigation, her submission to US authorities to face justice also demonstrates responsibility and remorse,” he added.
What could be Hajia4Reall’s possible proposal?
While Hajia4Reall awaits sentencing at a yet-to-be-announced date, Amanda Clinton anticipates efforts by prosecutors to have her serve the maximum sentence (five years) by presenting evidence of aggravating factors to warrant a heavy sentence.
Such factors, he said, can include the number of victims involved and how vulnerable they are, the amount received from the scams, how deeply involved the defendant was in the scheme and how the proceeds were used, among others.
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“As a lawyer, I imagine the state’s attorneys are likely to cite these kinds of aggravating factors and ask the judge to sentence her to 3-4 years in prison. Especially since the other 5 were not pursued by the prosecution. The judge will get the final decision on how much prison she will be sentenced to,” he added.
But lawyer Clinton was quick to point out that Hajia4Reall also had some mitigating factors in its favor, such as its voluntary flight from London, the supposed end of the scheme by 2019, its lack of leadership in the scheme and its preparedness. to pay over $2 million in forfeiture and restitution.
He concluded that Hajia4Reall could be sentenced to approximately four years in prison as the aggravating factors outweighed her mitigating factors.
“The aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating factors in this case, and four of the five charges originally presented by the prosecution have been dismissed. In my professional opinion, prosecutors could seek four years in prison for Hajer, and it’s ultimately up to to the judge to decide”.
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Hajia4Reall paid $2 million, named 4 partners to take a few years
Meanwhile, Hajia4Reall has reportedly paid $2 million in restitution after pleading guilty to one count in the US romance fraud case.
According to a Nigerian journalist, Dr Kemi Olunloyo, Hajia4Reall released some names as part of its agreement with US authorities.
The Ghanaian star now faces up to five years in prison, with Dr Olunloyo predicting a lesser sentence such as three years due to her cooperation.
Source: YEN.com.gh