Huntington Beach woman sentenced to 30 months for $2.8M embezzlement

Tae Miyaji Jones pleaded guilty to stealing from her employer over 6-year period

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:25pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shredded financial document or crumpled check, dramatically lit by a harsh camera flash against a dark background to create a stark, gritty aesthetic representing the hidden details of a major theft crime.A recent high-profile embezzlement case exposes vulnerabilities in financial oversight at some companies.Madison Today

A 50-year-old Huntington Beach woman was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison for embezzling about $2.8 million from a Garden Grove-based instant noodle maker where she worked as an account manager. Tae Miyaji Jones pleaded guilty to multiple counts of mail and wire fraud after admitting to transferring money from corporate accounts to her personal accounts to pay for personal expenses over a 6-year period.

Why it matters

Embezzlement cases like this highlight the need for stronger financial controls and oversight at companies to prevent long-running theft schemes. The significant amount stolen and duration of the crime also raise questions about the effectiveness of internal auditing procedures at the victim company.

The details

According to court documents, Jones admitted to embezzling $2,894,441 from 2017 through July 2023 by transferring money from corporate accounts to her personal accounts to pay for home mortgages, jewelry, car loans, and credit card debt. Jones also doctored records to hide evidence of the theft. As part of her plea deal, Jones agreed to turn over stolen goods such as jewelry and designer bags, as well as homes in Madison, Alabama, and Waikoloa, Hawaii.

  • Jones embezzled funds from 2017 through July 2023.
  • Jones pleaded guilty on October 2.

The players

Tae Miyaji Jones

A 50-year-old Huntington Beach woman who was an account manager at the victim company and pleaded guilty to embezzling $2.8 million over a 6-year period.

S.F.

The Garden Grove-based instant noodle maker where Jones worked and embezzled funds from.

U.S. District Judge Fred W. Slaughter

The judge who sentenced Jones to 30 months in prison and ordered her to pay $2,894,441 in restitution.

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What’s next

Jones will begin serving her 30-month prison sentence. The victim company may also review its internal financial controls and auditing procedures to prevent such long-running embezzlement schemes in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for robust financial oversight and controls at companies to detect and prevent long-term embezzlement schemes. The significant amount stolen over many years also raises questions about the effectiveness of the victim company's internal auditing processes.