When the phone rings, Ya’quasia Delcarmen’s son says “mama.” She describes calling home to ask about his day, checking with his teachers, praying with him at night and singing over the phone. Those are ordinary acts of parenting carried out across a prison line. The calls keep them close, but they cannot give back the mornings or the time together that an eight-year federal sentence takes away.
“Being away from my son is by far the hardest part about being incarcerated,” Delcarmen told Beard Bros Media in remarks provided for this article. She has wrestled with her own responsibility, too. “For a while it really ate away at me that I put myself in this situation but I realized I had to forgive myself in order to show up as the best version of myself I can be.”
Delcarmen’s recent request for clemency was denied, according to information provided to Beard Bros Media. Beard Bros reviewed her federal judgment and the original criminal complaint, along with information related to her clemency application, but was not provided the denial notice or its date. The denial leaves her eight-year sentence in place.Freedom Grows Executive Director Kristin Flor is in regular contact with Ya’quasia and will continue to help her with any future clemency requests.
It also raises a question that extends beyond one family: How should the federal government weigh an admitted offense, rehabilitation, family circumstances and the continuing consequences of separating a mother from her young child?
What Happened in Ya’quasia Delcarmen’s Federal Case?
The case arose from a marijuana distribution operation moving product from California to Jacksonville, Florida. A criminal complaint filed April 12, 2024, alleged that Delcarmen participated in transporting and distributing marijuana and handling proceeds connected to the operation. A criminal complaint sets out investigators’ allegations and probable cause; it is not itself a verdict on every allegation.
Delcarmen pleaded guilty on June 27, 2024, to two counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 kilograms of marijuana, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On December 11, 2024, U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger imposed 96 months on each count, running concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release.
Delcarmen’s case involved more than marijuana possession. According to federal prosecutors, she participated in the distribution of marijuana and the handling of proceeds connected to the operation. She ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Her judgment does not include a conviction for a firearm or violent offense.
How Long Has Ya’quasia Delcarmen Been Incarcerated?
Delcarmen was arrested in April 2024 and sentenced on December 11, 2024. She received a 96-month federal sentence, with the sentences on both counts running concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons currently lists Delcarmen’s projected release date as December 16, 2030. Projected release dates can change as the BOP calculates sentence credits and other applicable adjustments.
The court also recommended that Delcarmen be placed as close to Jacksonville, Florida, as possible and that she be enrolled in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP).
In a statement provided for this story, Delcarmen said she has spent her incarceration at a low-security camp. While she is grateful for the less restrictive environment, she questions whether lengthy incarceration is necessary for low-risk individuals like herself.
“I genuinely believe it’s a waste of a lot of money to house low risk inmates when there are other options like home confinement, community service or something along those lines,” she said. “Someone like myself, a first-time non-violent offender, on marijuana charges did not need an 8-year sentence to learn my lesson.”
What Did the Clemency Request Ask For, and What Does the Denial Mean?
Delcarmen sought a commutation of her sentence, a form of executive clemency that can reduce a federal prison sentence without overturning the underlying conviction.
Her request for clemency was recently denied. The denial does not change her convictions or the sentence imposed by the court; it means that her request for a reduction of that sentence was not granted at this time.
“Getting a second chance would mean the world to me and my family,” Delcarmen said. “My whole world was flipped upside down and I just want the opportunity to make it right.”
Her words reflect both an acceptance of the choices that led to her incarceration and her hope for an opportunity to return home, rebuild her life and be present for her son.
“You’re Still a Mom”: Parenting From Prison
Delcarmen’s son is being cared for and supported by family while she serves her sentence. Delcarmen emphasizes how grateful she is for the stability and love they provide him.
“I focus on the things that I’m grateful for, like the fact that I have an amazing support system. My son is taken care of, he is safe, happy and healthy. That alone brings my heart so much peace.”
That gratitude lives alongside an absence she feels every day.
“My son literally means the world to me,” she said. “Even though I’m away I still wake up everyday in mom mode, ready to call home and check on how his day went, asking his teachers how he is doing in school, praying with him at night and singing over the phone, just making sure he hears my voice and sees my face.”
When the phone rings, she says, her son recognizes who is calling: “mama.”
Her advice to other incarcerated mothers is direct:
“You’re still a mom and it’s important to stay connected to your child, they still need you and no matter the situation their little hearts know who you are so show up for them in all the ways you can.”
Prison has changed how Delcarmen can be present in her son’s life. It has not stopped her from trying to be his mother every day.
Her case also illustrates how incarceration reaches beyond the person serving the sentence. Delcarmen accepts responsibility for the decisions that led to her incarceration, while her son and the relatives caring for him continue to experience the effects of her absence.
Freedom Grow Will Continue Standing With Ya’quasia
The denial does not end Freedom Grow’s work with Delcarmen. Her denial states that she may submit another clemency application after 12 months, and Freedom Grow is already preparing a comprehensive report and supporting materials to accompany that future application.
A standard clemency application can only tell part of a person’s story. Supporting materials can provide a fuller picture of the person behind the case, including rehabilitation, personal growth, family circumstances, community support and plans for life after incarceration. Freedom Grow intends to help ensure that when Delcarmen is eligible to apply again, she has meaningful organizational support behind her request.
In the meantime, Freedom Grow will continue supporting her in the everyday ways that can make a difference during incarceration. The organization’s Executive Director Kristin Flor communicates with Delcarmen, answers her questions, helps connect her with available resources, purchases books to help her stay engaged and educated, and continues telling her story through public outreach. Her case was recently showcased in Freedom Grow’s display at the California State Fair.
That support also extends to her family. Delcarmen’s mother and sister have helped care for and support her son while she is incarcerated. For Mother’s Day, Freedom Grow gave Delcarmen the opportunity to personally choose gifts for her mother and sister, then purchased and sent those gifts on her behalf. It gave Delcarmen a way to thank the women helping care for her son and participate in a meaningful family moment despite being separated from them by prison.
Freedom Grow is a nonprofit organization that believes no one should be incarcerated for cannabis. Its work supports people serving cannabis-related sentences and the families affected by their incarceration through advocacy, outreach and direct support. Its motto, “Bringing Light to Dark Cells,” reflects a simple promise: to remind those serving time that they have not been forgotten.
For Ya’quasia, the next 12 months will mean continuing to serve her sentence, staying connected to her son and preparing for another opportunity to ask for a second chance. Freedom Grow plans to continue standing beside her through that process, and to be there when she is eligible to apply again.
To learn more about Freedom Grow, support its work, or donate to help people incarcerated for cannabis and families like Ya’quasia’s, visit FreedomGrow.org.
