Carrollton woman pleads guilty to harboring illegal aliens and participating in massive methamphetamine distribution operation

Atlanta – Jackelyne Marroquin has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute over 760 pounds of methamphetamine and harboring illegal aliens to facilitate the drug trafficking operation. “Marroquin harbored illegal aliens to operate a metro-Atlanta drug distribution ring,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result of unwavering law enforcement dedication, this insidious trafficking network has been dismantled, and well over a million dollars’ worth of lethal drugs have been removed from our streets. The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners will continue to protect the public by ensuring North Georgia is never a haven for criminal cartels.” “Today’s guilty plea reinforces that DEA will not tolerate drug traffickers,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Those who fuel the drug trade while putting communities and vulnerable individuals at risk will face serious consequences.” “Jackelyne Marroquin trafficked illicit drugs and utilized illegal aliens in the furtherance of that crime,” said John B. Stevens, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal. “The U.S. Marshals, along with our partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, will never stop our pursuit of criminals. The mission of enhancing public safety is vital, and we are honored that it is our responsibility. No matter how long a criminal runs, we will find them, and they will pay.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In March of 2024, Marroquin rented a home in Stone Mountain, Georgia that was used by a drug trafficking organization to store and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that the methamphetamine was imported from Mexico in bags of charcoal. During the investigation, agents found buckets of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) at multiple stash houses used by the organization, including the Stone Mountain stash house. MSM is a dietary supplement drug traffickers use to “cut” or mix with methamphetamine to maximize profits. On April 2, 2024, the DEA and local law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Stone Mountain residence. Inside of the residence, law enforcement found approximately 760 pounds of 99 percent pure methamphetamine, with a street value of between $1,450,000 and $1,900,000. Agents discovered that two illegal aliens from Mexico, Jonathan Guzman Esquivel and Alfonso Calderon-Rodriguez, had been living at and trafficking drugs from the residence, the inside of which was sparsely furnished and covered with charcoal dust. The investigation revealed that Marroquin had provided the two illegal aliens with the use of her rented residence as well as money for expenses. Sentencing for Jackelyne Marroquin, 33, of Carrollton, Georgia, is scheduled for April 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. Jonathan Guzman Esquivel, 34, and Alfonso Calderon-Rodriguez, 30, both of Uruapan, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and were each sentenced in the fall of 2024 to serve five years and ten months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.