A Mastic man sold marijuana gummies to a teen through Instagram, according to court records, before police said they sickened at least a dozen students at William Floyd Middle School.
Wilmer Castillo-Garcia, 22, exchanged messages on Instagram with a 13-year-old to sell the gummies containing THC, “which resulted in the minor requiring medical attention,” according to a criminal complaint.
Police said the teen distributed the gummies at school March 3, causing 11 students to be hospitalized and treated before being released.
Police said Castillo-Garcia later confessed to selling the gummies following his arrest Tuesday. The gummies led to a misdemeanor charge of acting in a manner to injure a child under 17, according to court records.
Castillo-Garcia was charged with two felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, two counts of unlawful sale cannabis or concentrated cannabis, and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Unrelated to the gummy sale, police charged two other men during the investigation, Breiner Mayen-Balcarcel, 20, and Carlos Mendez-Aviles, 21, both roommates of Castillo-Garcia in Mastic. Mendez-Aviles was given an appearance ticket to be arraigned at a later date.
Castillo-Garcia and Mayen-Balcarcel both pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon in First District Court in Central Islip. They were placed on supervised release and declined to comment as they left court Wednesday. Lawyers for both men declined to comment.
A Suffolk County judge issued an order of protection between Castillo-Garcia and the minor, after attorneys said they were acquaintances through mutual friends.
Castillo-Garcia also was charged with separately selling marijuana and cocaine May 5 at a Popeye’s in Shirley and at his home May 12, according to court records.
Police also found cocaine in a bedroom at Mayen-Balcarcel’s home during a search warrant Tuesday, according to court records.
Mayen-Balcarcel was charged with two felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance related to cocaine at his home May 6 and misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said they found cocaine in multiple small zip lock bags during a search warrant Tuesday at his home.
Marijuana products cannot be legally purchased until age 21 at state-licensed facilities.
Eleven of the students who ingested the edibles were sent to a hospital for treatment. Read More
