NEWARK, N.J. – Lorena Marquez, 48, of Union Township, is headed to federal prison for a decade after pleading guilty to trafficking a significant quantity of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced the 120-month sentence handed down today, a clear message that large-scale drug dealing won’t be tolerated in New Jersey.
Marquez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton via videoconference. The judge imposed 108 months for possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and an additional 12 months consecutively for violating the terms of her supervised release – a clear indication this wasn’t her first brush with the law.
The bust stemmed from a 2019 joint operation between federal and local law enforcement targeting narcotics trafficking in the northern part of the state. Investigators zeroed in on Marquez, learning she was using a self-storage facility in Jersey City as a base of operations for her drug distribution network. It wasn’t a small operation; authorities discovered approximately two pounds of crystal methamphetamine stashed inside her storage unit.
The evidence was overwhelming. Documents filed with the court and statements made during proceedings paint a clear picture of Marquez as a key player in the methamphetamine supply chain. She was arrested immediately following the search, and swiftly entered a guilty plea, likely hoping for leniency. Judge Wigenton wasn’t buying it.
Beyond the prison sentence, Marquez will face five years of supervised release upon her eventual return to the streets. This will allow authorities to monitor her activities and hopefully prevent her from returning to her criminal ways. The case was spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan L. O’Neill, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit, highlighting the ongoing federal commitment to combating the opioid crisis.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and specifically Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, for their work on the investigation and Marquez’s arrest. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who profit from poisoning communities will face serious consequences.
Related Federal Cases
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- Tomas Lopez Beltran Charged With 27kg Meth Haul · New Jersey
- Hammonton Man Pleads Guilty to Crystal Meth Conspiracy · New Jersey
- Rayfeal Roman Charged in 2.5KG Cocaine Trafficking Plot · New Jersey
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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