United States v. Willis et al., Plea Agreement Accepted as to Monekea M. Smith-Taylor (N.D. Miss. 4:25-cr-00099, ECF 72)

Summary

A Plea Agreement filed January 20, 2026 as Doc #: 72 in United States of America v. Monekea M. Smith-Taylor a.k.a. Monekea M. Smith, Criminal Case No. 4:25-cr-00099-SA-JMV, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, proposed to the Court by the United States Attorney. The defendant agrees to plead guilty to Count One, which charges that she conspired with Mario D. Willis to embezzle in excess of $5,000 under the care of Hollandale School District, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 & 666(a)(1)(A). The agreement lists maximum penalties of not more than 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, and the United States agrees to dismiss the other charges after sentencing. It is dated the 13th day of January and carries the signature block of United States Attorney Scott F. Leary.

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Case: 4:25-cr-00099-SA-JMV Doc #: 72 Filed: 01/20/26 1 of 3 PagelD #: 188

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

v. CRIMINAL CASE NO. 4:25-cr-00099-SA-JMV

MONEKEA M. SMITH-TAYLOR a.k.a.
MONEKEA M. SMITH

PLEA AGREEMENT
The United States Attorney hereby proposes to the Court a Plea Agreement to be filed in
this cause under Rule I1(c) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Defendant has read and
fully understands this Plea Agreement and approves same, realizing that the Plea Agreement is

subject to acceptance or rejection by the Court. The Plea Agreement is as follows:

1. GUILTY PLEA; The defendant agrees to plcad guilty under oath to Count Onc of
the Indictment, which charges that Defendant, MONEKEA M. SMITH-TAYLOR, conspired with
Mario D. Willis, and with others known and unknown to the United States Attorney, with Mario
D. Willis being an agent of an organization that received in excess of $10,000 in Federal program
funds in each relevant one-year period, to embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud and intentionally
misapply in excess of $5,000 in money that was under the care custody and control of Hollandale
School District in violation of Title 18, United States Code. Sections 371 & 666(a)(1)(A), which
carry maximum possible penaltics of not more than 5 ycars imprisonment, not more than 3 ycars
supervised release, not more than a $250,000 fine, a special assessment of $100, and restitution as

appropriate.
Case: 4:25-cr-00099-SA-JMV Doc #: 72 Filed: 01/20/26 2 of 3 PagelD #: 189

2. OTHER CHARGES: The United States agrees not to charge the defendant with
any other offenses arising from or related to the above charge and agrees to dismiss all other
charges in the original Indictment in this cause upon the conclusion of sentencing on Count One

of the Information.

3. RESTITUTION: Defendant understands that the Court may order restitution in
accordance with the provisions of Title 18, United States Code, Scction 3663 for all offenscs

committed and specifically agrees that restitution is not limited to the count of conviction.

4. OTHER AUTHORITIES: This agreement docs not bind any prosecuting

authority of any state or any other federal district, nor does it bind the Attomey. General of the
United States with regard to any matter, criminal or civil, involving federal tax laws. Nor does
this agreement bind the United States or any of its departments or agencies with regard to any civil

or administrative actions or remcdics.

5. VIOLATIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT; If defendant violates this agreement, all

statements made pursuant hereto will be admissible against defendant, who hereby waives the
provisions of Rule 1 I(f) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and Rule 410 of the Federal
Rules of Evidence. Defendant may also, in that event, be prosecuted for all federal offenses,

including perjury and false statements relating to this plea agreement.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; Apart from being advised of the applicability of the

U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other than as set forth elsewhere in the plea documents, no
promise or representation whatsocver has been madc to Defendant as to what punishment the Court
might impose if it accepts the plea of guilty. This agreement fully reflects all promises,

agreements, and understandings between Defendant and the United States Attorney. Defendant’s
Case: 4:25-cr-00099-SA-JMV Doc #: 72 Filed: 01/20/26 3 of 3 PagelD #: 190

agreement is knowing, free, and voluntary, and not the product of force, threat, or coercion.

Defendant is pleading guilty because defendant is in fact guilty.

This the 13th day of _ January » 202

SCOTT F. LEARY
United States Atto
MS. Bar No. 8985

APPROVED:
MONKKEA SMITH-TAYLOR [/ JOLIN KEITH PERRY
Defendant Attorney for Defendant


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