ORDER
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 21-00019 PAGE - 1
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THE HONORABLE JOHN C. COUGHENOUR
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE TERRITORY OF GUAM
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
MEKAYDA D. JONES and MONIQUE
JONES,
Defendants. CRIMINAL CASE NO. 21-00019
ORDER
The order below follows an evidentiary hearing resulting from a limited remand from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, who directed this Court to redetermine the in personam money judgment forfeiture amounts in this matter for Defendants Monique Jones and Mekayda Jones. (See Dkt. Nos. 448, 453.)
I. BACKGROUND
1. On February 14, 2023, a jury found Defendants Sally Roberto, Monique Jones, and Mekayda Jones guilty of the following in this matter: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; multiple counts of wire fraud, in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 1343; and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). (See Dkt. No. 184.) Through a separate matter, United States v. Pereda, Case No. CR21-0004 (D. Guam 2021), Teresa Pereda pleaded guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and those wires were
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part of the same conspiracy as this matter. See id. at Docket Numbers 1, 5, 6, 35.
2. On May 16, 2023, following trial in this matter, the Court entered in personam money judgment against Mekayda Jones in the amount of $801,210. (Dkt. No. 256.) This amount was derived from $387,160 in wires from Teresa Pereda and Sally Roberto, along with $414,050 in cashier checks issued to Richland Concepts LLC, an entity controlled by another conspirator, from funds controlled by Mekayda Jones. (Id.)
3. Also on May 16, 2023, the Court entered in personam money judgment against Monique Jones in the amount of $1,111,280. (Id.) This was derived from $578,130 in wires received from Teresa Pereda and Sally Roberto, along with $533,150 in cashier checks issued to Richland Concepts LLC. (Id.)
4. On September 20, 2024, the Ninth Circuit remanded this matter for the limited purpose of determining what portion of the amounts above "came to rest" with Mekayda and Monique Jones (rather than simply passed through accounts they controlled). (See Dkt. Nos. 448, 453.)
5. On July 29, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, this Court held an evidentiary hearing on the issue. (See Dkt. No 491.) In so doing, it received the following evidence: testimony from Government expert FBI forensic accountant Laurice Otsuka; Testimony from Defense expert Janet McHard, MBA, CPA, CFE; Government exhibits 1-16; and Defense exhibits A-1-A-
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II. FINDINGS OF FACT
1. From February 11, 2019, through August 5, 2019, Teresa Pereda and Sally Roberto wired $387,160.00 collectively to the Chase account ending in 2989, the Bank of America account ending in 9103, the Bank of Texas account ending in 0155, the Resource One accounts ending in 5110 and 1187, and the Legacy Texas account ending in 5720. All of these accounts were in the name of Mythic Trade LLC and
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wholly controlled by Mekayda Jones. From these amounts, Mekayda Jones distributed $270,878.87 to other members of the conspiracy. See Govt's Ex. 1.
2. From May 14, 2019, through September 30, 2019, Teresa Pereda and Sally Roberto wired $578,130.00 collectively to the Chase account ending in 6307, Resource One account ending in 1166, and Bank of America account ending in 9449. All of these accounts were in the name of Jones Republic LLC and wholly controlled by Monique Jones. From these amounts, Monique Jones distributed $465,815.77 to other members of the conspiracy. See Govt's Ex. 2.
3. Monique and Mekayda Jones estimated keeping between 10% and 20% of the funds they received but could not determine the actual amount with any certainty, as they claimed that this amount varied significantly by transaction. See Gov'ts Exs. 10-16.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(a)(1)(C) and 981(a)(1), 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c), and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2, an in personam money judgment against Mekayda and Monique Jones is permissible based on a proven nexus between the counts of conviction and the funds at issue. See United States v. Newman, 659 F.3d 1235, 1243 (9th Cir. 2011).
2. In making this showing, the Government need only demonstrate "facts warranting forfeiture by a preponderance of the evidence." United States v. Christensen, 828 F.3d 763, 822 (9th Cir. 2015).
3. This Court's resulting determination "does not demand mathematical exactitude."
United States v. Taquarius Kaream Ford, 296 F. Supp. 3d 1251, 1260 (D. Or. 2017) (citing United States v. Treacy, 639 F.3d 32, 48 (2d Cir. 2011)).
4. Nevertheless, the amount subject to forfeiture in a money laundering scheme is limited to the funds which "came to rest" with the defendant. United States v. Villegas, 2024 WL 510310, slip op. at 1 (9th Cir. 2024) (unpublished) (citing United
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States v. Thompson, 990 F.3d 680, 690 (9th Cir. 2021).
5. Because Mekayda Jones wholly controlled all of the Mythic Trade financial accounts described above, all amounts received in those accounts from conspirators Ms. Pereda and Ms. Roberto and not distributed to other conspirators "came to rest" with Mekayda Jones. See Villegas, 2024 WL 510310, slip op. at 1. That amount is $116,281.13.1The Court sees no basis to limit this amount to actual withdrawals by Mekayda Jones for personal expenses (as Ms. McHard suggested at the hearing).
6. Because Monique Jones wholly controlled the Jones Republic LLC financial accounts described above, all amounts received in the accounts from conspirators Ms. Pereda and Ms. Roberto and not distributed to other conspirators "came to rest" with Monique Jones. That amount is $112,314.23. The Court sees no basis to limit this amount to actual withdrawals by Monique Jones for personal expenses (as Ms. McHard suggested at the hearing).
IV. ORDER
Accordingly, Mekayda Jones shall forfeit to the United States a revised in personam money judgment of $116,281.13 and Monique Jones shall forfeit to the United States a revised in personam money judgment of $112,314.23. The Government is DIRECTED to present the Court with a revised forfeiture judgment in these amounts for the Court's approval. Further, the Government may move pursuant to Rule 32.2(c) to amend this Order to substitute property having a value not to exceed the revised in personam money judgments as necessary to satisfy such judgments.
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It is so ORDERED this 8th day of August 2025. John C. Coughenour
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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