THC Gummy Peddler Pleads Guilty After 12 Kids Sickened

An illegal immigrant from Guatemala pleaded guilty to selling THC gummies that hospitalized 12 William Floyd Middle School students, and later tried to flee the country through the Canadian border, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced.

Wilmer Castillo Garcia, 23, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to court documents and Garcia’s admissions, he sold THC gummies through Instagram in March 2025. The gummies ultimately reached 12 William Floyd Middle School students, all of whom became violently sick and were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center.

Prosecutors said Garcia later sold cocaine and marijuana to an undercover law enforcement officer on May 5 and May 12, 2025.

Garcia was arraigned in August 2025 and released on his own recognizance because the charges were not eligible for bail under New York law.

While the case remained pending, Canadian border authorities arrested Garcia at the Lewiston Bridge close to Niagara Falls, NY on Oct. 4, 2025, as he allegedly attempted to leave the United States.

He was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and taken to the Batavia Federal Detention Facility for removal proceedings. At the request of Suffolk County prosecutors, ICE returned Garcia to the county to face the indictment.

“Because the charges are non-bail eligible under current New York law, prosecutors could not ask for bail when the defendant was arrested, so the defendant fled to the Canadian border in an attempt to evade prosecution,” Tierney said.

Garcia entered his guilty plea July 23 before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft Jr.

He is expected to receive two years in prison followed by two years of post-release supervision when sentenced Sept. 10.

ICE has lodged a detainer and is expected to take custody of Garcia after he completes his prison sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Kendall Walsh prosecuted the case. Suffolk police Detectives Jessica Anderson and John McGlynn conducted the investigation.