David Espinal, Murder for Hire, New York 2011

Manhattan federal court unsealed two indictments charging David Espinal, also known as 'D-Block', and Michael Castillo, also known as 'Squirrel', with murder for hire in connection with the March 10, 2011, murder of Hector Arias in the Bronx, New York.

According to the indictments, ESPINAL hired CASTILLO to murder ARIAS in connection with a conspiracy to distribute marijuana. On March 10, 2011, CASTILLO carried out the plan and murdered ARIAS by shooting him in the vicinity of 712 East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx.

ESPINAL paid CASTILLO for murdering ARIAS. Both ESPINAL and CASTILLO are charged with murder for hire, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or death, and a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI in this case, saying, 'As alleged, eight years ago, David Espinal and Michael Castillo reduced the value of a man's life to a dollar figure. Their arrests today show that the passage of time does not insulate alleged murderers from investigation, apprehension, and prosecution.'

ESPINAL was taken into custody this morning in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and will be presented in federal court in that District today. CASTILLO was taken into custody this morning in the Northern District of Texas and will be presented in federal court in that District today.

This case is being handled by the Office's Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie Bagliebter, Maurene Comey, Scott Hartman, and Jacqueline Kelly are in charge of the prosecutions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/two-defendants-charged-manhattan-federal-court-2011-murder-hire