COLUMBUS, Ohio - On October 19th, Citlaly Casillas, 22, of Columbus, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit kidnapping following a failed drug transaction.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Detroit Field Division, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of (FBI), Gahanna Police Chief Dennis Murphy and Westerville Police Chief Joseph Morbitzer announced the plea offered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.
According to the Statement of Facts in this case, Casillas and co-defendant William Hernandez Castillo conspired to kidnap an individual from April 4th through April 7th, 2017.
In March, the individual told Casillas that an associate of his wanted to buy one kilogram of cocaine. Casillas and Hernandez agreed and intended to sell the cocaine for more than $30,000. When the time came to complete the transaction on April 4, the “customer" took the cocaine without paying.
Hernandez then called the supplier of the drugs, who was in Mexico, to discuss how to respond. The source of the cocaine said if he did not receive the drugs or the money, he would send enforcers to deal with the individual and his family.
From April 4th through April 7th, Hernandez and Casillas seized, confined and kidnapped the victim for ransom at their Columbus residence. Hernandez told the victim that people from Mexico would harm his family if the drug owner did not receive the drugs or money.
On April 7th, 2017, the victim was driven by Hernandez to a location in Columbus, where they believed ransom money was waiting. When the victim arrived at the drop location, law enforcement secured him.
Casillas was arrested during the execution of a search warrant at her residence on April 17. Hernandez was arrested the same day, and the two have remained in custody since.
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Hernandez has also signed a plea agreement agreeing to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping. His hearing to formally plead guilty has not yet been scheduled.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, DEA, Gahanna Police and Westerville Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, who is representing the United States in this case.
