MORICHES, NY — A man who sold gummies to about a dozen William Floyd middle school students — who got sick after ingesting them — was returned to Suffolk County after reportedly trying to flee the country, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.
Wilmer Castillo Garcia, 22, a Guatemalan national, was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency while reportedly attempting to leave the United States after having been released without bail, the DA said.
Garcia had previously been indicted on a charge of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance after selling narcotics to an undercover officer, Tierney said.
Garcia had endangering the welfare of a hild in connection with a prior incident in which he allegedly sold THC gummies that resulted in the hospitalization of more than 12 William Floyd Middle School students, Tierney said.
Because all of the charges in the indictment are non-bail eligible under current New York State law, the court was unable to set bail at the arraignment in August, the DA said.
The investigation into Castillo Garcia began after 12 students from William Floyd Middle School were all brought to Peconic Bay Medical Center on the same day after falling ill from consuming edible gummies containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or (THC), a compound found in cannabis, the DA said.
Law enforcement allegedly traced the source of the gummies to an Instagram account "7k_teddy," which led investigators to Castillo Garcia, Tierney said.
Next, on May 5, 2025, and May 12, 2025, Castillo Garcia sold cocaine and marijuana to an undercover law enforcement officer, the DA said.
On August 14, 2025, Castillo Garcia was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft, Jr., for charges contained in the indictment including two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, Class B felonies; two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, Class B felonies; one count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor; and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor, the DA said.
Castillo Garcia was released on his own recognizance during the pendency of the case, the DA said.
On October 4, 2025, Castillo Garcia was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency at the Lewiston Bridge in Lewiston, New York, the DA said.
Castillo Garcia was subsequently placed into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and brought to the Batavia Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, New York for removal proceedings, the DA said.
At the request of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Justice Senft executed a writ of habeas corpus ad prosequendum, ordering Castillo Garcia be returned to Suffolk County to face the charges contained in the indictment, Tierney said.
Castillo Garcia is currently being held at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility pending further proceedings, with the cooperation and assistance of ICE, the DA said.
Castillo Garcia is due back in court on May 19, 2026, and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted of the top count, Tierney said.
He is being represented by Matthew Touhy, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The students were transported to area hospitals after they got sick after eating marijuana gummies at the William Floyd Middle School, officials said.
In a statement to Patch at the time, the William Floyd school district spoke about next steps: "While we cannot discuss student discipline publicly due to privacy laws, we take this matter seriously and there will be appropriate consequences. We will continue to build upon our anti-drug programs and also continue to host grade-level assemblies highlighting the dangers of all drug use, including edible marijuana."
Suffolk County Police Seventh Precinct officers responded to William Floyd Middle School, located at 630 Moriches Middle Island Road in Moriches, at about 10:10 a.m. on March 3, 2025 for multiple aided cases, police said.
The students, ages 13 and 14, got sick after taking marijuana gummies, police said; 10 were transported to local hospitals for evaluation, according to Suffolk County Fire Rescue Services.
"This morning, a student at William Floyd Middle School handed out edible THC gummies to students, who have since fallen ill," a statement from the William Floyd Union Free School District said. "The Suffolk County Police Department and local EMTs responded en masse to provide care and assistance, along with our school nurse, to students."
Of the students initially transported to local hospitals for assistance, one was released into the custody of a parent, the district said.
"We are grateful to our first responders for their quick response, thankful that the students will be treated and hopeful that they will recover quickly," the district said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has guidance on its website on how edibles can impact children.
"Edibles, or food and drink products infused with cannabis, have some different risks than smoked cannabis," the CDC said. "The amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or the concentration or strength, is difficult to measure and often unknown or inaccurate as labeled on edible products."
Edibles, or food and drink products infused with cannabis, have some different risks than smoked cannabis, including a greater risk of poisoning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Unlike smoked cannabis, edibles can, according to the CDC:
Some cannabis edibles have packaging designed to mimic the appearance of well-known branded snacks and candy that appeal to children, the CDC said.
"Children who consume THC-containing products can become very sick," the CDC said. "They may have problems walking or sitting up or may have a hard time breathing. Since adult cannabis use has been legalized in some states, unintentional cannabis poisonings in children have increased, sometimes requiring visits to the emergency room or hospitalization."
The CDC added: "If you use cannabis products, keep them in a locked childproof container and outof the reach and sight of children and pets."
"This defendant allegedly sold drugs to an undercover officer and is also allegedly connected to the hospitalization of multiple school children. Yet, our prosecutors had no legal mechanism to ask for the court to set bail," Tierney said Thursday. "New York’s bail laws are still broken. Luckily, the defendant was allegedly caught while attempting to flee across the border into Canada. We thank Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Canada Border Services Agency for ensuring this defendant will face justice for these charges."
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