Eric Castillo said he is guilty again this week. It ties him to eight deaths in Cameron County. He said it on Monday. This is the second time he has said he is guilty in this case.
Castillo first said he was guilty back in June 2026. He said yes to four counts of holding illegal drugs. That means police say he had the drugs in his possession. But 10 days later, he changed his mind. He took back his guilty plea. Now, in September, he said he is guilty again to those same four counts.
The formal charges also accuse Castillo of distributing THC, coke, meth, and fentanyl. That distribution charge is separate from the four possession counts he pleaded guilty to, and it has not been resolved in court. A grand jury signs off on charges like this. It means a person may have broken the law. Fentanyl is a strong drug. Even a tiny bit can kill someone.
Police say Castillo's arrest ties back to eight deaths. Those deaths came from bad drugs in October 2023. The deaths happened in Brownsville and Harlingen. Police say the drugs had hidden fentanyl mixed in. That means someone put fentanyl into other drugs, like meth or coke, without the buyer knowing. A normal-looking dose can turn deadly fast.
Castillo will get his sentence this Friday, September 18, 2026, on the four possession counts. A judge will pick his punishment. Sentencing is when a person learns how much time, if any, they will serve.
This case shows how deadly drugs have gotten in Cameron County. Eight families lost someone they loved in October 2023. Nearly three years later, Castillo has pleaded guilty to holding the drugs police tied to those deaths. He has said it twice, not once. His back and forth shows just how big this case is.
