Guatemalan national freed without bail in THC gummies case that sent 12 middle-schoolers to the hospital
Wilmer Castillo Garcia, 22, is accused of endangering the welfare of a child after 12 students from William Floyd Middle School were brought to Peconic Bay Hospital on the same day, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
The children became ill after eating gummies laced with THC, a compound found in cannabis that is known for causing a high or euphoric effect.
The candies were traced to an Instagram account, which led investigators to Castillo Garcia, Tierney said.
Castillo Garcia was also indicted on two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and other related charges, after he allegedly sold cocaine and marijuana to an undercover officer on two separate occasions.
He pleaded not guilty.
4 Wilmer Castillo-Garcia is escorted out of the Suffolk County 6th precinct in Selden, NY, before his arraignment on May 28, 2025.
Dennis A. Clark
4 THC-laced gummies packaged in wrapping made to look similar to popular snacks.
The North Carolina Secretary of State
Defense attorney Matthew Tuohy, who is representing Castillo Garcia, told Fox News Digital they are working with the district attorney's office to come up with a resolution to the case.
'My client has had a very, very tough upbringing,' Tuohy said. 'He's basically been on his own. He has family here now that is helping him, and I'm trying to get him on the right path to resolve this the best way we can.'
Though Castillo Garcia is charged with a total of four felonies and two misdemeanors, Judge Anthony Senft Jr. ordered him to be released on his own recognizance, as his charges are considered non-bail-eligible under current New York state law.
4 William Floyd Middle School in Moriches, New York, where the 12 students fell ill from the THC-laced candies.
William Floyd School District
4 Marijuana-infused sour gummy bear candies lined up in a photo illustration.
REUTERS
'This is yet another example of how New York's bail laws are broken,' Tierney wrote in a statement.
'We cannot even ask for reasonable security on a foreign national who allegedly provided THC gummies that sickened middle-schoolers to ensure he faces justice.'
Prosecutors cannot ask for bail, and judges are unable to set an amount, despite the fact that Castillo Garcia is alleged to be a foreign national with connections and the ability to flee the jurisdiction to evade prosecution, according to Tierney.
When asked about his client's release, Tuohy said Castillo Garcia is not a flight risk.
'He hired an attorney, he was present in court at his own volition, and he showed he's not a risk of flight,' Tuohy said. 'These are drug cases, not violent cases, so they're not bail-eligible. At the same time, I don't think there was an intent to harm anybody, on anybody's part. It's an unfortunate situation, and we're going to do the best we can to resolve it in the best possible way.'
Castillo Garcia is due back in court Sept. 2 and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted of the top count.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
NYC construction kingpin who funneled illegal donations to Mayor Adams' 2021 campaign apologizes to taxpayers as he gets wrist-slap sentence
A Brooklyn construction kingpin apologized to New York taxpayers Friday as he was handed a wrist-slap sentence for funneling illegal donations to Mayor Eric Adams' 2021 campaign. Erden Arkan, 76, the owner of KSK Construction Group in Williamsburg, had faced up to six months behind bars under federal sentencing guidelines, but prosecutors and a probation officer agreed no prison time was warranted. 'I'm simply sorry to the New York taxpayers,' said a rueful Arkan before he was sentenced to one year of probation in Manhattan federal court. Advertisement The Turkey native pleaded guilty in January to a wire fraud charge for illegally reimbursing his employees for roughly $18,000 of donations they made toward Adams' successful 2021 campaign for mayor. 3 Construction kingpin Erden Arkan told the court that he was sorry for helping rip off taxpayers in the campaign scam. William Farrington The Adams campaign then used those funds to fraudulently hoover up public dollars under a city program that matches donations 8-to-1 with taxpayer cash, prosecutors alleged. Advertisement The feds said Adams had personally asked the wealthy magnate and a Turkish diplomat for campaign cash at an April 2021 dinner. Arkan tried to convince other members of the city's Turkish community to bundle donations to Adams at a fundraiser he held soon after the meeting at his business's headquarters, court papers said. 'Unfortunately, this is how things work in this country,' he allegedly wrote to his colleagues. Adams was charged in September 2024 with taking $123,000 in travel perk bribes and ripping off taxpayers with bogus campaign cash from Turks in exchange for help fast-tracking the opening of the Manhattan Turkish consulate building. Advertisement 3 Arkan's business has netted more than $1 billion since its founding in 2003, his lawyer said. @teachstats / Instagram But the Justice Department under President Trump took the unusual move in February of pushing for the historic corruption case against Hizzoner to be dismissed, without commenting on the strength of the prosecution. The judge overseeing both Adams and Arkan's cases, Dale Ho, has suggested that the DOJ moved to toss the charges in exchange for the mayor's help rolling out the White House's immigration agenda. Adams pleaded not guilty and has also denied allegations that there was a crooked 'quid pro quo' tied to the case dismissal. Advertisement Arkan's lawyer, Jonathan Rosen, accused the government on Friday of being 'unfair' and inconsistent in continuing to prosecute his client after Ho agreed to toss Adams' case. 3 Federal prosecutors moved to toss Adams' case earlier this year without commenting on the strength of the evidence. REUTERS 'I'm commenting on the incoherence,' Rosen said. But a visibly irked Ho shot back, 'What impact does that have on the decision before me today?' The judge added that Arkan — who said his company netted more than $1 billion in revenue since its founding in 2003 — had otherwise lived an 'exemplary' life before his arrest, before wishing him good luck in the future. 'I promise to do good. This will never happen again,' Arkan told the court. On top of the one year of probation, Arkan was ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution and a $9,500 fine. A rep for Adams' 2025 campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Pro bodybuilder Craig Licker dead at 57 as sport experiences its latest tragedy
The pro bodybuilding community said goodbye to another one of its own following the death of Craig Licker. Licker, a Massachusetts native, died earlier in the week, according to multiple reports. He was 57 years old. Advertisement No official cause of death has been given. The 20-year IFBB pro began his career in 1995 with the Niagara Falls Pro Invitational and the Houston Pro Championship, and after a short bodybuilding sabbatical, returned in 2015 to place 12th in the Chicago Pro and 16th in the Tampa Pro. Craig Licker was 57 years old. instagram/troublecraig Advertisement 'I met Craig back in 1995 and started coaching him soon after… and ultimately that developed into a lifelong friendship,' fellow bodybuilder Dave Palumbo said in an Instagram post. 'Craig had a really gifted structure and discipline for bodybuilding. If you told him to eat dirt; he'd ask you 'how many oz?'' 'Craig and I both were BMW fanatics .. he had a tuned-to-the-max BMW M3 and I had an M5… we spent ludicrous amounts of money on upgrading our cars and we'd race each other and talk 'car shop' all the time,' he continued. 'I will miss our always interesting conversations and his great sense of humor … RIP my friend!' The news of Licker's death adds to a growing list of bodybuilding deaths in recent months. Advertisement Earlier this week, Hayley McNeff died at the age of 37 in an 'unexpected' tragedy. Craig Licker died earlier this week. instagram/troublecraig Columbian bodybuilder Zunilda Hoyos Mendez, a 43-year-old known as 'She Hulk,' was found beaten to death with a hammer while on vacation. Jodi Vance, 20, died of what her family believed to be 'severe hydration' in March, while Vittorio 'Vito' Pirbazari, 44, a star of Netflix's 'Dog of Berlin,' reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack while running on a treadmill in April.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Noem temporarily relocated to military housing after ‘vicious doxxing' and death threats, DHS says
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem temporarily relocated her personal residence as she's facing an increase in threats against her and 'vicious doxxing,' a department spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday. 'Following the media's publishing of the location of Secretary Noem's Washington D.C. apartment, she has faced vicious doxxing on the dark web and a surge in death threats, including from the terrorist organizations, cartels, and criminal gangs that DHS targets. Advertisement Due to threats and security concerns, she has been forced to temporarily stay in secure military housing,' Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. 'Secretary Noem continues to pay rent for her Navy Yard residence. 'It's a shame that the media chooses sensationalism over the safety of people enforcing America's laws to keep Americans safe,' McLaughlin added. Noem said last week that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents 'are now facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them as they risk their lives to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.' 3 Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has temporarily left her personal residence after 'vicious doxxing.' U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Getty Images Advertisement 3 Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) on March 26 in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Getty Images 3 'Due to threats and security concerns, she has been forced to temporarily stay in secure military housing,' Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. AP 'We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down. Everyday our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and sexual predators,' she added in a post on X. Advertisement In July, Fox News Digital reported that ICE officials faced an 830% increase in assaults between Jan. 21, 2025 and July 14, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. That timeframe began the day after President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office.
