A 23-year-old man pleaded guilty to selling THC gummies through Instagram that were later ingested by 12 William Floyd Middle School students, all of whom became ill and were taken to a hospital, prosecutors said.
Wilmer Castillo Garcia pleaded guilty July 23 to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and endangering the welfare of a child, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced July 30.
According to court documents and Castillo Garcia’s admissions during his guilty plea, he sold the THC gummies through Instagram in March 2025. The gummies ultimately reached 12 students, who were taken to Peconic Bay Hospital after falling ill.
Prosecutors said Castillo Garcia later sold cocaine and marijuana to an undercover law enforcement officer on May 5 and May 12, 2025.
Castillo Garcia was arraigned Aug. 14, 2025, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft Jr. He was released on his own recognizance because the charges were not eligible for bail under New York law.
On Oct. 4, 2025, the Canada Border Services Agency arrested Castillo Garcia at the Lewiston Bridge in Lewiston, New York, while he was attempting to leave the United States, prosecutors said.
Castillo Garcia was placed in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and taken to the Batavia Federal Detention Facility for removal proceedings. At the request of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, ICE returned him to Suffolk County under a judicial writ to face the charges.
Castillo Garcia pleaded guilty to a Class B felony count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and a Class A misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.
He is expected to be sentenced Sept. 10 to two years in prison followed by two years of post-release supervision. ICE has placed a detainer on Castillo Garcia and is expected to take custody of him after he completes the prison sentence.
Castillo Garcia is represented by attorney Matthew Touhy.
Assistant District Attorney Kendall Walsh of the Narcotics Bureau is prosecuting the case. Suffolk County police Narcotics Unit detectives Jessica Anderson and John McGlynn conducted the investigation.
Photo: SCDA
