Santa Maria man pleads not guilty to federal drug trafficking, firearm charges

Dave Minsky, Santa Maria Times, Calif.
·3 min read

Feb. 26—A Santa Maria man pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges while possessing a firearm stemming from a Santa Barbara County arrest in October 2020.

Alberto Lopez Castillo, 24, appeared in Los Angeles federal court, on three charges that include possession of an unspecified amount of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon in Santa Barbara County, according to a Feb. 16 indictment.

Additionally, Castillo was accused of possessing more than 15 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition and must forfeit any property or proceeds derived from the offense and any guns or ammunition he was in possession of at the time.

A jury trial has been scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. April 6 at the U.S. Courthouse in Los Angeles. Castillo faces at least 10 years in prison if convicted.

The case, which originated from a Santa Barbara County Superior Court complaint filed Oct. 19, 2020, was dismissed last month and later adopted federally in the "interests of justice," according to Deputy District Attorney Madison Whitmore, although she could not discuss why.

In a pretrial detention request filed Feb. 16, attorney Jeremiah Levine requested that Castillo remain in federal custody before the start of the trial based on a violation of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, which relates to the "manufacture, distribution or possession with intent to manufacture or distribute controlled substances on board vessels," and a serious risk that Castillo will flee.

Erica Choi, Castillo's federal public defender, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

Ciaran McEvoy, the public information officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, declined to comment on the case.

Castillo, also known as "Lil Chaps" or "Lil Aztec," was arrested on a federal warrant shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the 800 block of East Tabitha Lane, which stems from an arrest on suspicion of state charges at the same address shortly before 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2020, according to arrest logs and Superior Court records.

His original arrest stemmed from a warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Santa Maria Police Lt. Russ Mengel.

The Superior Court complaint filed on Oct. 19, 2020, shows Castillo is accused of illegally possessing ammunition and a controlled substance while armed with a Glock 19 pistol. The complaint also included an additional firearm-related offense that occurred on Oct. 10, 2020, and an enhancement that he allegedly possessed more than 14.25 grams of heroin for sales.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Oct. 19, 2020, although the case was later dismissed on Jan. 7 since it was taken up on a federal level, according to court records.

A Superior Court filing on Jan. 27 showed that Judge John McGregor ordered the Santa Maria Police to return Castillo's wallet and its contents, including $155 in cash.

Recommended Stories

  • Neo-Nazi who planned to blow up synagogue sentenced to 19 years

    Richard Holzer, 28, of Colorado, pleaded guilty to a plot to blow up one of the state's oldest temples. But he was unknowingly in contact with the FBI.

  • Lady Gaga's dogs returned unharmed

    The two French bulldogs were taken in a violent robbery, police said.

  • Former U.S. Gymnastics Coach Dies Hours After Sex Trafficking Charges

    On Thursday, Former USA Olympic Gymnastics coach John Geddert died by suicide hours after being charged with 24 felonies. The human trafficking charges followed accusations that he abused gymnasts in his care. Police found Geddert’s body at an interstate highway rest stop hours after he was criminally charged in Michigan for his ties to the disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 10 minors in 2018. Geddert had agreed to surrender to the sheriff’s office on Thursday afternoon before a scheduled 2:15 p.m. arraignment, but he never showed, ESPN reported. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called Geddert’s suicide “a tragic end to a tragic story for everyone involved.” A spokesperson for Nessel told ESPN, “We had no indication that Geddert intended to flee or hurt himself or others. We had been in contact with his attorney and were assured of his cooperation.” The investigation into his death is “ongoing; no further details will be released at this time,” police said in a statement. Of the 24 felonies Geddert was charged with, 20 counts were for human trafficking and forced labor; one was for first-degree sexual assault; one was for second-degree sexual assault, racketeering, and lying to a police officer. Geddert, who led the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, was accused of “sexual penetration” of a girl under 16 in January 2012, according to the complaint. The Michigan Attorney General’s office also said Geddert was aware Nassar was sexually abusing gymnasts, and both men lied to police about it during the 2016 investigation. Nessel also said that victims of his abuse “suffer from disordered eating, including bulimia and anorexia, suicide attempts and self-harm, excessive physical conditioning, repeatedly being forced to perform even when injured, extreme emotional abuse and physical abuse, including sexual assault. Many of these victims still carry these scars from his behavior to this day.” USA Gymnastics came under scrutiny in 2016 as 332 survivors of sexual assault came forward with allegations that they had been abused by Nassar in one of the biggest sexual violence reckonings in sports. Many athletes spoke out following the news of Geddert’s suicide, including Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, a survivor of Nassar’s abuse who was vocal about her experiences. “Sick to my stomach,” Raisman wrote on Twitter. She added, “Thinking of the survivors out there. Wish there was more I could say to ease the pain & suffering.” Sarah Klein, the first-known survivor of Nassar’s abuse, blamed officials at top gymnastics organizations for “enabling” Geddert, whom she described as a “narcissistic abuser,” CNN reports. Klein was one of the 150 survivors to speak up about Nassar’s abuse in 2018. “The bravery of Geddert’s many victims will stand for all time in stark contrast to his cowardice,” she said Thursday. “As a survivor and a mother of two young girls, my only comfort is in the knowledge that I can rest my head on the pillow every night knowing that John Geddert will never terrorize and abuse another child.” Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Gymnastics Is Entering A New Era Of JoyTake A Moment To Enjoy This Nia Dennis RoutineUSAG's Reckoning Isn't Over, Athlete A Reveals

  • Buy the Dip in Square Stock, Says Analyst

    In what has become an increasingly familiar pattern over the past year, Square (SQ) delivered another strong display when it reported 4Q20 earnings on Tuesday. Driven by surging Bitcoin demand, revenue increased by 141% year-over-year to reach $3.2 billion, beating Street estimates by $50 million. There was a beat on the bottom-line, too, with Non-GAAP EPS of $0.32 coming in ahead of the forecasts by $0.08. Of course, the star of the show was the all-conquering Cash App whose profits skyrocketed by 162% from the same period last year. However, investors appeared Square fatigued following the report’s release and sent shares down in the subsequent session. But in timely Wall Street fashion, Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev tells investors to “buy the dip.” “Was there anything wrong with 4Q?” Dolev asks. “Not at all, it simply lacked the element of surprise.” Has the story changed? He asks next, before answering, “With Cash App GP per active growing +70%, 2.5x bitcoin volumes per customer, accelerating Seller GP, and a 40% increase in product/S&M etc. in 2021, we believe momentum is strong.” Furthermore, says the 5-star analyst, the near-term outlook looks promising. Although the Cash App’s growth slowed down from 164% in January to 130% in February, the analyst expects gross profit to accelerate throughout the quarter. “Assuming the February two-year gross profit stack of +247% holds through March, this implies +135% Y/Y gross profit growth, which is ahead of February's +130%,” Dolev said. By the same logic, taking January and February’s “two-year stack” of roughly 45-48% growth, Q1 should see a 27% GP uptick, which is higher than the 13% growth in Q4. Overall, Dolev’s analysis indicates that Square’s total gross profit will accelerate to between 65-70% in 1Q21, compared to the 54% growth of 4Q20 (ex. Caviar). And with April stimulus on the horizon, the analyst believes the Cash App will be due another boost in Q2. To this end, Dolev reiterated a Buy on SQ shares, backed by a $380 price target. Investors could be pocketing gains of 60%, should Dolev’s thesis play out accordingly in the months ahead. (To watch Dolev’s track record, click here) Most Street analysts are also backing Square’s continued success. The stock’s Moderate Buy consensus rating is based on 17 Buys, 9 Holds and 2 Sells. The forecast is for 15% upside, given the average price target stands at $273.5. (See SQ stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

  • Tiger Woods car crash: Golfer 'in good spirits' after latest treatment

    The golfer received successful "follow-up procedures" following Tuesday's serious car crash in LA.

  • Electric firm Griddy loses access to Texas grid, customers shifted to rivals

    Texas's grid operator on Friday shut Griddy Energy LLC's access to the state's power network for unpaid bills and shifted its 10,000 customers to other utilities, as new signs of a financial crisis rose after a state-wide blackout. Griddy was the power marketer that sold consumers electricity at wholesale rates, which rose to $9,000 per megawatt hour as cold weather struck the state last week. Grid operator Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) "effectively shut down Griddy," the electricity marketer said in a statement on its website.

  • In latest attack on Asians, woman dragged by car in robbery

    A woman was dragged by a car in Oakland’s Asian business district during a robbery that her husband says left her bruised and shaken, marking the latest in a series of attacks against people of Asian descent in the San Francisco Bay Area and in other parts of the U.S. Eric Nghiem said his wife, Jenny, who is Vietnamese, had her purse crossed around her neck and shoulder as she was walking to a grocery store when a thief grabbed it and jumped into the passenger side of a car Wednesday. Nghiem said his wife is sore and bruised after the robbery in the city's East Lake neighborhood.

  • Nigeria's Zamfara school abduction: More than 300 Nigerian girls missing

    Nigeria's president warns the kidnappers that his government will not give in to blackmail.

  • FDA advisory panel endorses Johnson & Johnson one-shot COVID vaccine for emergency use

    A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Friday recommended the authorization of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot coronavirus vaccine for emergency use.Why it matters: The FDA is expected to make a final decision within days on the J&J vaccine, which was found to be 66% effective against moderate to severe COVID. An emergency use authorization would allow distribution to immediately begin, helping streamline and speed up the vaccine rollout across the U.S.Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients said on Wednesday that J&J will have 3 million to 4 million ready for distribution next week.The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNtech shots are the only other vaccines that have received FDA authorization. Unlike Moderna's shot, J&J's vaccine does not require ultra-cold storage, simplifying the logistics of distribution.Go deeper: FDA analysis finds Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine is safe and effectiveMore from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

  • CPAC: Marsha Blackburn expresses outrage at media fact-checking Trump, despite his thousands of false claims

    ‘First they decided they were going to fact-check him – the leader of the free world’

  • Durant out until after break, Sabonis gets All-Star spot

    Kevin Durant will be out through the All-Star break because of a hamstring injury, sidelining the Brooklyn Nets star from a game for which he was chosen to serve as a captain. Indiana's Domantas Sabonis was chosen by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace Durant, with Boston's Jayson Tatum elevated to the pool of starters for the March 7 game in Atlanta. The Nets said Friday that after a routine follow-up MRI on Durant's left hamstring, it was determined that he needed additional recovery time.

  • How Bill Gates became a favorite target of far-right conspiracy theorists

    Bill Gates has been targeted by conspiracy theorists for years. Here's why he emerged as a main scapegoat for conspiracy theorists in the last year.

  • Miami doesn’t host NASCAR championships anymore, but drivers would like to see them return

    Kevin Harvick is old enough to remember a time before NASCAR held all its championships in one place to end the season. He was there at Homestead-Miami Speedway for all 18 years the track hosted NASCAR Championship Weekend, from its first year in 2002 all the way through its final go-around in 2019.

  • Mystery 41kg Russian metal object found on beach in Bahamas ‘could be from spacecraft’

    Space experts believe object could have come from satellite or spacecraft

  • Former Sen. Kelly Loeffler is out as owner of WNBA team, and the new owners include former star player who retired to fight for social justice

    One month after WNBA players helped oust Kelly Loeffler from the Senate, the league announced that it had approved sale of the franchise she co-owned.

  • Residents of an Indian slum thought they were getting vaccinated like everyone else but were unknowingly part of a clinical trial

    After a white van advertised COVID-19 vaccines to a central-Indian slum, many of its residents feel duped after finding out they were in a trial.

  • Saudi de facto ruler approved operation that led to Khashoggi's death: U.S.

    Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler approved an operation to capture or kill murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, according to U.S. intelligence released on Friday as the United States imposed sanctions on some of those involved but spared the crown prince himself in an effort to preserve relations with the kingdom. Khashoggi, a U.S. resident who wrote opinion columns for the Washington Post critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's policies, was killed and dismembered by a team of operatives linked to the prince in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. The Saudi government, which has denied any involvement by the crown prince, issued a statement rejecting the U.S. report's findings and repeating its previous statements that Khashoggi's killing was a heinous crime by a rogue group.

  • Ben Affleck says his divorce from Jennifer Garner and other 'life experience' shaped him into a better actor

    In a new interview as part of The Hollywood Reporter's Actor Roundtable series, Affleck spoke about Garner and the three kids they share.

  • Tesla's appeal to car buyers is 'clearly formidable' but not rock solid, J.D. Power study finds

    The study on car-buying trends argued that Tesla "could be displaced by a worthy alternative," and people are open to other options.

  • Rush Limbaugh buried in private cemetery in St. Louis

    Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has been buried in a private cemetery in St. Louis, his family announced Friday. Limbaugh's widow, Kathryn, and his family said a private ceremony with close family and friends was held Wednesday, but they did not say where he was buried.