Aug. 17 -- A rising FDNY star was hailed as a hero by one of the two marijuana grow house operators jailed Friday for causing his death.
Weed operation boss Garivaldi Castillo, 33, and his right-hand man Julio Salcedo, 36, offered apologies to the family and friends of Deputy Chief Michael Fahy at an emotional Bronx Supreme Court sentencing.
Fahy, the 44-year-old father of three, died in a September 2016 gas explosion at the Kingsbridge pot-growing location run by Castillo and tended by Salcedo. Fahy was mortally injured by a flying piece of slate from the home’s roof only minutes after evacuating Salcedo and other residents from the building after answering a call for a gas leak.
Defense attorney Dawn Floria read the letter of apology written by Salcedo, who was too “overcome with emotion” to deliver the message himself.
“Chief Fahy is my hero,” wrote Salcedo. “He saved my life. I promise the court, I promise the firefighters, I promise Chief Fahy’s family, I will be productive as soon as I get out.”
Authorities charged the weed-growing duo sealed the second-floor windows of the Bronx residence with foil panels that created the deadly conditions in the home. Fahy was mortally injured by a flying piece of debris when the trapped gas eventually exploded.
The Bronx Supreme Court was filled with Fahy’s colleagues, many wearing shirts reading “In Memory of DC Michael Fahy, Chief 19th Battalion.” Fahy’s parents, along with his teary sister Mary, sat through the emotional sentencing one month after the defendants reached an unprecedented plea bargain deal with prosecutors.
“For the first time in New York history, the defendants are being held responsible for the conditions that led to the death (of an FDNY officer),” said Assistant District Attorney John Miras.
Under the terms of their plea bargains, Castillo was sentenced to 2-to-6 years for manslaughter and 5 years for criminal marijuana possession to run concurrently. Salcedo was sentenced to 1-to-3 years for manslaughter and 4 years for marijuana possession – also to run concurrently.
FDNY Lt. Richard Ruebenacker, who survived a head injury following the blast, spoke during the hearing. His rescue of Salcedo was “the only regrettable one “ of his career, the lieutenant said.
“Did you make enough money?” he asked the defendants. “New York lost a hero. And in exchange, we saved you … You two were selfish in your endless pursuit of a few quick dollars.”
Castillo, speaking through an interpreter, offered his own mea culpa for the tragic death of Fahy.
“I didn’t want any of this to happen,” he said,. “Any human being … I am incapable of hurting them.”
But Reubenacker said the pair were responsible for the line of duty death of a revered firefighter just doing his job: Saving people’s lives.
“Your actions helped rip from the city one of the most genuine public servants,” he said. “You deserve no sympathy.”
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