John Marsh 
A Merced Ca, couple have pleaded guilty to committing a scheme where they sold cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine and marijuana through several accounts on a dark-web marketplace, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jabari Monson, 32, and his partner Saudia Monson, 39, were arrested Jan. 17 by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
From July 2018 through January this year, the Monsons operated the vendor accounts “Best Buy Meds,” “Trap Mart” and “House of Dank,” on the dark-web marketplace Dream Market, according to a news release.
Jabari Monson pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances and faces between five and 40 years in prison with a $5 million fine.
Saudia Monson pleaded guilty to violating the Travel Act by using mail and the internet to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of five years in prison with a $250,000 fine.
The couple agreed to forfeit cryptocurrency proceeds of the drug scheme, including Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The defendants are due back in court for sentencing in November. Jabari Monson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Saudia Monson faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Full Statement By USAO
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Jabari Monson, 32, of Merced, California, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute controlled substances, and Saudia Monson, 39, also of Merced, pleaded guilty today to a violation of the Travel Act, using the mail and internet to distribute controlled substances, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, from July 2018 through January 2019, Jabari Monson and Saudia Monson operated several vendor accounts on the dark-web marketplace Dream Market, through which they sold cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
As part of the plea agreement, the defendants agreed to forfeit cryptocurrency that was the proceeds of the drug distribution, including bitcoin and bitcoin cash.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant B. Rabenn and Paul Hemesath are prosecuting the case.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Nov. 19. Jabari Monson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Saudia Monson faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
