Theodore S. Hertzberg United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia | Department of Justice
Five Mexican nationals have been charged in federal court after authorities seized over 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine from two locations in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia. The defendants—Wilber Castellanos Villazana, Yamilet Calixto Sotelo, Jorge Lorenzo Manzanarez, Esteban Jacobo-Suarez, and Damien Gomez-Guijarro—face charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Four of the five are identified as being in the United States illegally.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has linked one of the primary suspects to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a criminal organization described by law enforcement as violent and a significant threat.
“Within just a few days, undercover investigations in the metro Atlanta area led to the seizure of more than half a ton of methamphetamine, the arrests of four illegal aliens allegedly responsible for distributing those deadly drugs, and the disruption of two drug trafficking rings,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will continue to proudly partner with federal, state, and local crimefighters to protect the public and eliminate the scourge of drug trafficking.”
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated: “The CJNG cartel is a significant threat to public safety, public health, and the national security of the United States. DEA will target every level of their supply chain to disrupt and destroy their networks.”
According to information presented in court:
On September 15, 2025, Wilber Castellanos Villazana allegedly sold one kilogram of methamphetamine to an undercover DEA agent at an apartment complex in DeKalb County. Authorities observed further suspected narcotics sales from an Acura vehicle.
The following day, agents saw Castellanos Villazana along with Jorge Lorenzo Manzanarez and Yamilet Calixto Sotelo moving large black trash bags from an apartment into a car. A search resulted in approximately 22 kilograms found in the car trunk and about 309 kilograms inside the apartment.
On September 17, Esteban Jacobo-Suarez and Damien Gomez-Guijarro allegedly sold another kilogram to an undercover agent at a gas station near Stone Mountain before being tracked back to a residence. Subsequent searches revealed 10 kilograms in their vehicle and roughly 131 kilograms at their residence along with one firearm and $12,000 cash.
All five individuals were charged on September 19 with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine via federal criminal complaints. Jacobo-Suarez had previously been deported twice from the United States.
Authorities emphasized that these are only charges at this stage; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
The investigation involved cooperation between several agencies including DEA’s Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program (HIDTA), Homeland Security Investigations, DeKalb County Police Department, and Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Herskowitz is prosecuting these cases.
This action falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative focused on countering illegal immigration-related crime by targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts among various law enforcement programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
For resources on drug prevention for parents and children visit www.justthinktwice.gov. Additional information can be obtained through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga or by contacting their Public Affairs Office.
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