Springfield, Vermont Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Drug Conspiracy and Possession of Pipe Bomb

Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 20, 2024, Anibal Castro, Jr., 35, of Springfield, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 72 months' imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Castro previously pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing a firearm, that is a destructive device, not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

According to court records, on April 6, 2022, while the Springfield Police Department and Vermont State Police were executing a state search warrant at Castro Jr.'s Valley Street residence, they discovered a ten and one-half inch pipe bomb. The pipe was made of aluminum with crimped metal ends covered in tape and had a pyrotechnic fuse extending out from inside the pipe. The words "BYE BYE !!" were written on the outside of the pipe. The pipe contained 650 BB pellets and black powder. The presence of BBs "further weaponized" the device. An 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. Additionally, from March 2022 to May 5, 2022, Castro Jr. worked with others to distribute heroin, cocaine base, and fentanyl on Valley Street in Springfield and elsewhere. Also, Castro, Jr. armed himself with a firearm in connection with the drug trafficking. A case against Castro Jr.'s co-conspirators is still pending before the United States District Judge Christina Reiss.

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. Castro, Jr. was represented by Karen Shingler, Esq.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.