Castillo pleads “not guilty” to La Crosse County drug charges; caught with record 15 pounds of meth

A trial will be scheduled in La Crosse for a 22-year-old man caught carrying 15 pounds of meth at an Onalaska hotel.

Jimmy Castillo of Kansas pleaded not guilty in La Crosse County court to allegedly acting as a courier for a meth dealer.

Investigator James Mancuso from the La Crosse Police Department said a drug tip led officers to the Holiday Inn last month, where Castillo was captured. The suspect admitted that he was going to be paid big money for the meth.

“I read Jimmy his rights at the police department,” Mancuso told the court. “He informed me he was in town to meet with somebody to deliver the methamphetamine to them, and he was supposed to receive $63,000 for the meth.”

The 15 pounds represented the largest single meth bust ever in La Crosse County — coming a few weeks after the previous record of 11 pounds was involved in a meth bust by La Crosse Police.

Castillo’s bond was reduced this week from $250,000 — the estimated value of the meth – to $100,000 cash.

Mancuso said a tipster had told police to watch for a person from Kansas, headed to the Onalaska Holiday Inn. Castillo tried to run, but was captured and searched.

Castillo faces up to 40 years in prison if he’s convicted.