Burlington, VT – A Springfield man is going down for 72 months after a federal judge found him guilty of possessing a pipe bomb and conspiring to distribute controlled substances.
Anibal Castro Jr., 35, of Springfield, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to 72 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Castro had pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing a destructive device, not registered to him, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
According to court records, on April 6, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a state search warrant at Castro Jr.’s Valley Street residence, where they discovered a 10.5-inch pipe bomb containing 650 BB pellets and black powder. The device was described as an aluminum pipe with crimped metal ends covered in tape, with a pyrotechnic fuse extending out from inside the pipe. The words “BYE BYE !!” were written on the outside of the pipe.
A forensic examination by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined that an explosion of the device would produce blast effects capable of causing property damage, injury, or death to people or property nearby. The presence of BBs further weaponized the device, making it a potentially deadly threat.
Additionally, Castro Jr. worked with others to distribute heroin, cocaine base, and fentanyl on Valley Street in Springfield and elsewhere from March 2022 to May 5, 2022. Castro Jr. also armed himself with a firearm in connection with the drug trafficking.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the ATF, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Springfield Police Department, the Vermont State Police, and the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Perella and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on core principles of fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
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- Springfield Drug Ring Busted: 12 Sentenced for Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Firearm Charges · Massachusetts
- St. Johnsbury Drug Dealer Shawn Snead Gets 36-Month Sentence for Fentanyl Conspiracy · Vermont
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Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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