Pipe Bomb Plotter Anibal Castro Jr. Sentenced to 7.5 Years

Burlington, VT – In a brazen display of lawlessness, Anibal Castro Jr., 35, of Springfield, Vermont, has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for his role in a pipe bomb plot and a conspiracy to distribute deadly drugs.

Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford handed down the sentence on May 20, 2024, following Castro Jr.’s guilty plea to charges of possessing a destructive device and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

According to court records, on April 6, 2022, a joint operation between the Springfield Police Department and Vermont State Police uncovered a 10.5-inch pipe bomb at Castro Jr.’s Valley Street residence. The device, fashioned from aluminum with crimped metal ends and a pyrotechnic fuse, was found to contain 650 BB pellets and black powder.

The pipe bomb, emblazoned with the ominous message ‘BYE BYE !!’, was deemed capable of causing property damage, injury, or death. ATF experts determined that an explosion would produce blast effects that could wreak havoc on nearby people and property.

It’s clear that Castro Jr.’s motivations went far beyond mere possession of a destructive device. The defendant’s involvement in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine base, and fentanyl on Valley Street and elsewhere in Springfield is a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of the opioid epidemic.

Castro Jr.’s co-conspirators remain at large, and a case against them is still pending before the United States District Judge Christina Reiss. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the ATF, FBI, Vermont Drug Task Force, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, Springfield Police Department, Vermont State Police, and Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office, have brought this violent offender to justice.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in our communities. Under this initiative, law enforcement agencies work together with community-based organizations to prevent violence and make our neighborhoods safer.

Anibal Castro Jr.’s 72-month sentence sends a clear message that those who engage in violent crime and destructive behavior will be held accountable for their actions. This sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and the justice system in protecting our communities from harm.

Castro Jr. was represented by Karen Shingler, Esq., and the case was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Perella and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative work of law enforcement agencies in bringing this case to a close.