Two suspects from California accused of running a darknet drug trafficking business throughout the U.S. and in Miami-Dade and Broward counties were indicted on Wednesday, authorities said.
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Nicholas Aguilar, 44, and Jessica Marcolina, 37, were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to authorities, documents showed the pair allegedly operated a vendor account on multiple darknet marketplaces, where they would distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine nationwide and in South Florida.
Aside from the drug conspiracy, the pair allegedly also conspired to launder cryptocurrency that they received from the drug sales through transactions that were made to hide the source and ownership of the funds.
Authorities said the two had been running this scheme since 2020 and were sending packages with drugs through the mail.
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Records show that during seven months in 2025, law enforcement identified more than 500 packages that were believed to have the drugs that were linked to their operation.
During a search of their residences in California, investigators found the following:
- large amounts of the drugs
- drug packaging material
- printed warning labels
- U.S. Postal Service shipping supplies
- a label maker
- heat and vacuum sealer
- a food processor with the suspected narcotics residue
- electronic devices
- fake ID documents that had the names of the identity theft victims
Authorities also learned that Aguilar has two loaded handguns, a rifle, and he operated an illicit firearms manufacturing operation that made ghost guns, suppressors, and firearm upper and lower receivers.
If Aguilar and Marcolina are convicted, they face life in prison for drug trafficking and conspiracy and up to 20 years for money laundering.
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