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Five Things We Know About The Arrest, Indictment Of Mona4Reall

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The US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday, May 15, 2023, announced the indictment of Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage popularly known as Mona4Reall on fraud related criminal charges.

The announcement followed months of speculations about her supposed arrest by authoritie in the United Kingdom.

GhanaWeb highlights five facts about Mona’s arrest and her unsealed indictment charges as contained in the DoJ’s release below:

Arrest and extradition

According to the DoJ, Mona was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, in connection with a series of romance schemes and money laundering between 2013 and 2019.

“Montrage was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023,” the DoJ stated in the release posted on its website on Monday.

Details of offense and indictment

As contained in the unsealed indictment charges of jury, Mona is facing six counts: 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. She is also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money.

A US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damien Wililiams is quoted as saying that Hajia4Reall and the members of a criminal enterprise based in West Africa targeted older Americans through romance and ended up receiving over $2million through the activities of the enterprise.

“We alleged today that Ms. Montrage participated in multiple romance scams – often targeting elderly victims – resulting in more than $2 million in fraudulent funds under her control. Romance scams – especially those that target older individuals – are of major concern. The FBI will be tireless in our efforts to hold fraudsters accountable in the criminal justice system,” Damien Williams is quoted by the DoJ.

Alleged tricks

The unsealed indictment said Hajia4Reall in pursuit of her alleged scam activities committed offenses including opening multiple bank accounts in the US for the receipt of payments from her victims.

“On or about September 15, 2016, Mona Faiz Montrage, the defendant opened a business bank account in the name of 4Reall Desigsn in the Bronx. New York (“Account-1”).

“On or about November 1, 2018, Montrage received into Account-1 two check deposits from a romance scam victim (“Victim-2”) totalling at least approximately $195,000,” the Grand Jury indictment said.

Trial

Mona4Reall following her extradition to the US was expected to be put before US District Court Judge Paul A. Crotty on Monday, May 15, 2023.

Possible jail term

If found guilty, she faces up to 75 years jail term if she’s found guilty of all the charges levelled against her in the fraud.

The sentence duration of 95 years is subject to her receiving the maximum sentence for each of the six charges she is facing.

More often than not, sentences are handed down to run concurrently which means she could get a maximum of 20 years in jail.

Entertainment

Sarkodie signs deal to make fans shareholders of his yet-to-be-released mixtape

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Award-Winning Ghanaian Rapper, Sarkodie has announced a deal to give his fans shares in his yet-to-be-released mixtape, Championship.

The Rapper signed a deal with @opulousapp that will give some lucky fans he selects the opportunity to be shareholders in the Mixtape.

It is not clear how much percentage the artiste intends to give out to his fans but this corroborates an information he put out weeks ago.

Announcing the deal, Sarkodie said in a post shared via social media that “

I’ve been wanting to do this for the longest because im blessed to have the best fan base in the world “SarkNation” . Thanks to @opulousapp for giving me the platform to give my fans the opportunity to own shares in my music. Myself and @opulousapp coming together to give away a good percentage of my new mixtape #TheChampionshipMixtape to “lucky” fans! you guys deserve this and more for the support you’ve shown me over the years . Next post will show how it’s gonna work ! Congrats in advance SarkNation and thank you”.

Sarkodie has this month released “BRAG” off the mixtape. The single he released has made waves on and off social media with attempts by Nigerian acts to respond to him.

The Rapper has reignited the conversations around rap music in Africa as it had gone to sleep for some months.

@opulousapp on their website said their vision is the fact that they “believe in a future where musicians keep control of the music they create and forge even deeper connections with their fans”.

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Entertainment

Nominees for prestigious music awards unveiled

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The nominees for various categories of the 25th Ghana Awards have been announced. The announcement took place during the launch of the awards ceremony at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Artistes such as Black Sherif, King Promise, Kuami Eugene, Nacee, Sarkodie and Stonebwoy have been nominated for the prestigious ‘Artiste Of The Year’ award.

Telecel Ghana has been revealed as the headline sponsor for this year’s ceremony which is scheduled for June 1.

Gospel singer Celestine Donkor and Afrobeat artiste Olivetheboye were some of the artistes who enchanted patrons with stellar performances at the launch.

 Check the full list of nominees below

Artist of The Year

Black Sherif

King Promise

Kuami Eugene

Nacee

Sarkodie

Stonebwoy

Best Gospel Artiste of the Year

Diana Hamilton

Joe Mettle

Joyce Blessing

Perez Musik

Nacee

Piesie Esther

Scott Evans

Mavis Okyere

Best Reggae Dancehall Artiste of the Year

Epixode

Ras Kuuku

Stonebwoy

Best Reggae/Dancehall Song

Truth – DSL

Stubborn SoulJah – Epixode

Efiekuma Love – Kofi Kinaata

San Bra – Samini

Non-Stop – Stonebwoy

Eyeball Remix – Ras Kuuku ft Samini

Best Gospel Song 

Tears of Joy – Patience Nyarko

Anuonyam – Mabel Okyere

Aseda – Nace

Kaafo – Perez Muzik

Mo – Piesie Esther

100% – Scott Evans

Say Amen – Diana Hamilton

Victory – Joyce Blessing

Best Highlife Artiste of the Year

Abiana

Kofi Kinaata

Kuami Eugene

Akwaboah

FRA

African Artiste of the year 

Rema

Tyla

Asake

Burna Boy

Davido

Jzyno

Songwriter of the Year

Perez Muzik – Don’t Cry

Fameye – Not God

DSL – Truth

Sarkodie. – Otan

Akwaboah – Esikyire

Stonebwoy – Manodzi ft Angelique Kidjo

Collaboration of the Year

Liquor – KiDi ft Stonebwoy

Lonely Road – O’Kenneth, Xlimkid

Case Remix – Mr Drew ft Mophty

Twatis – Oseikrom Sikani ft Kweku Smoke

Kwaku Ananse Remix – Amerado ft Fameye

Y’ahitte Remix – King Paluta ft Kuami Eugene

You Dey Feel The Vibe – FRA ft Nana Yaw Ofori Atta

My Darling – Akwaboah ft Kwabena Kwabena

International Collaboration of The Year

Scar – Gyakie ft JBee

Butter My Bread – Jyzno ft Lasmid

Terminator – King Promise ft Yung Jon

Manodzi. – Stonebwoy ft Angelique Kidjo

Cryptocurrency – Kuami Eugene ft Rotimi

Wotowoto Season – Odumodublvck ft Black Sherif

Till We Die – Sarkodie ft Ruger

Best Rap Performance

The Hardest – Amerado

Warning – Eno Barony

Boasiako – FimFim

5th August (7) – Lyrical Joe

Best Male Vocal Performance

Perez Muzik – Don’t Cry (Kaafo)

Kyei Mensa – Gyidie

Kofi Karikari ft Eternity – You Are Great

Josh Blakk – Hankipanki

Camidoh – Brown Skin Girl

KiDi – I Lied

Best Female Vocal Performance

Adina – Baby

Abiana – Far Away

Lordina The Soprano – His Grace

Queendalyn Yurglee – Hold My Hands

Niiella – temple

TiTi Owusu – Make Me Believe

Best New Artist

Bandy Banner

DSL

King Paluta

Maya Blu

Olivetheboy

Oseikrom Sikanii

Record of The Year

Reckless & Sweet – Amaarae

Far Away – Abiana

Manodzi  – Stonebwoy ft Angelique Kidjo

Iyawo – Josh Blakk

Me Dan Wo – Joe Mettle ft Kweku Teye

My Helper – Efya

Album/EP of The Year

Taste of Africa – Abiana

Fountain Baby – Amaarae

Love & Chaos – Kuami Eugene

Planning & Plotting – Medikal

5th Dimension – Stonebwoy

Most Popular Song of the Year

Hossana – Bandy Banero

Yaya – Black Sherif

Scar – Gyakie ft JBee

Victory – Joyce Blessing

Case Remix – Mr Drew ft Mophty

Aseda – Nacee

Goodsin – Olivetheboy

Otan – Sarkodie

Into the Future – Stonebwoy

Best New Artist

Bandy Banner

DSL

King Paluta

Maya Blu

Olivetheboy

Oseikrom Sikanii

Best Video

Manodzi – Stonebwoy ft Angelique Kidjo

Wasted Eyes – Amaarae

Paradise – Black Sherif

Fate – Kuami Eugene

Broken Heart – DJ Vyrusky ft Kuami Eugene

100% – Scott Evans

Oil In My Head – Black Sherif

Kweku Playman – Kweku Smoke

Into the Future – Stonebwoy

Cryptocurrency – Kuami Eugene ft Rotimi

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Entertainment

Kuami Eugene returns with new banger ”Canopy”

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Highlife star Kuami Eugene has released a new song, “Canopy,” just days after his near-fatal car accident.

The accident occurred after ramming his Range Rover into a tipper truck at CP, close to the DSTV office towards the Dzowulu traffic light in Accra.

He broke his arm, had a cut on his lips, his leg and an injury in the hip. Departing from the conventional themes often found in mainstream music, “Canopy” offers a refreshing take on overtaking challenges

The song opens with a rich soundscape, filled with catchy rhythms, lively instruments, and the Lynx Entertainment signee’s unmistakable voice. A classic beat provides a strong foundation, while smooth guitar riffs and atmospheric synths add complexity and depth.

Known in real life as Eugene Kwame Marfo, Kuami Eugene creates a personal and relatable experience through his evocative lyrics and vivid imagery.

”Canopy” is a potential Song of the Year contender that is expected to capture the public domain like  conflagration and transcend borders

Listen to the song below

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