Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Murder Resulting From Drug Robbery
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today for his role in a 2018 murder and robbery.
Kyle Castle, 29, was one of five Columbus men indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2021 with crimes involving three murders and a related narcotics ring.
In 2018, defendants conspired to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash in his residence. That robbery resulted in the shooting death of another individual within the house who was unrelated to the marijuana. To cover up for this first murder, it is alleged lead defendant Larry Williams then murdered a man and a woman with knowledge of the first murder.
Castle admitted to driving with others to the 800 block of East North Broadway in Columbus during the early morning hours of June 27, 2018, to rob a residence they knew to contain large amounts of marijuana and cash. Each of the co-conspirators was armed, including Castle who was in possession of a pistol.
Upon entering the living room of the residence, an individual was shot and killed by an AK-47 style rifle. The co-conspirators also shot numerous dogs within the residence. The men stole 20 to 30 pounds of marijuana from the residence.
In total, 13 individuals have been charged federally for their alleged involvement in either the murders, the cover-up of the murders, or the related narcotics conspiracy. The cover-up involved defendants dismembering and burying the bodies of two murder victims.
Castle faces up to life in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; James C. Harris III, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
The joint investigation includes assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Fire and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Prichard and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in the cases.
