Prosecutors Want Life In Prison For Bank Robber Who Killed Tinley Man

HAMMOND, IND — Prosecutors are calling for a life sentence for an Indiana man who was convicted of armed robbery and a weapons charge in connection with a June 2021 bank robbery that resulted in the death of a bank security guard from Tinley Park.

A federal jury found Hailey Gist-Holden, 26, guilty of armed robbery and using, carrying, brandishing a firearm in the June 2021 robbery at First Midwest Bank in Gary, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Indiana. The jury determined that as part of the robbery and the discharging of the firearm, Gist-Holden murdered a bank security guard later identified as Richard Castellana, 55, of Tinley Park.

Now nearing sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlan Padula said Gist-Holden should given a life sentence because “there is no place in a just society for this kind of senseless murder," reports The Times Of Northwest Indiana.

Details revealed in a memo from Padula as reported by The Times said that Gist-Holden "without warning or hesitation, ... shot Castellana in the head, killing him. The surveillance video shows that Castellana did not see his murderer before he was killed."

Castellana was reportedly ambushed as he guarded the exterior of the First Midwest Bank during an attempted robbery, Patch previously reported. Two suspects seen on bank surveillance cameras were carrying guns before ambushing Castellana. The thieves made off with just under $10,000 in the robbery.

Gist-Holden is one of four charged in connection with the bank robbery. Also charged were 34-year-old Kenyon Hawkins of Georgia, 27-year-old Briana White, 27, of Chicago, and James A. King, 24, of Florida.

Gist-Holden and King reportedly knew each other through their semi-pro Illini Panthers MidStates Football League, of which Gist-Holden was reported as the owner. The pair reportedly robbed the bank to cover expenses incurred by the league, which included charges at more than one hotel, as previously reported by Patch.

Castellana was a former Cook County Sheriff's Deputy, and he retired in 2019. He served the Cook County Sheriff's Department for 35 years.

The armed robbery charge carries a penalty up to 25 years; the charge of using, carrying, brandishing a firearm during the robbery carries a sentence ranging from 10 years to life, reports The Post-Tribune.

Gist-Holden, who reportedly holds a master’s degree in criminal justice and is representing himself, has been requesting a new trial, according to the Times of Northwest Indiana.

U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon is set to sentence Gist-Holden April 14.