Bank Robbers Who Killed Guard Needed Money For Football Team: FBI

TINLEY PARK, IL — A second man accused in the death of former Cook County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Castellana has been charged. Hailey Gist-Holden, 26, of Gary, is charged with armed bank robbery and using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during the armed bank robbery, and causing death, U.S. Attorney Tina L. Nommay said.

Another man, 24-year-old James A. King, of Miami, Florida, was charged with murder in perpetration of a robbery and armed robbery in the killing of Castellana, prosecutors said. On June 17, King was indicted for armed bank robbery and for using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during the robbery, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Gist-Holden was arrested in Georgia early morning on June 18 after a police chase. An audit conducted by the bank determined that the men took $9,771.09, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Gist-Holden requested to speak with investigators without being recorded. He then asked to become a confidential informant for the FBI, and offered to "work off" his charges, but the investigators informed him that the FBI determines informants must be truthful, and the first step would be giving an honest narrative, followed by the whereabouts of the rifle used to kill Castellana.

Gist-Holden told investigators the rifle was "gone" and would never be found, followed by giving them a two-page list of potential investigative targets, the complaint states.

“The murder of Richard Castellana was a senseless act of violence,” Nommay said. “Our hearts go out to Mr. Castellana’s family and those other victims terrorized by these criminal acts. Thanks go out to all our law enforcement partners locally and around the country in their determined efforts to apprehend King and Gist-Holden.”

According to the FBI, the men knew each other through the Illini Panthers MidStates Football League, and Gist-Holden is the owner of the amateur football league for adults.

The complaint said players were warned by a Downers Grove hotel that they would have to provide their own credit cards to pay for their rooms, and that Gist-Holden had already disputed charges at another hotel, thinking of moving the players to his basement to save money.

Gist-Holden had pawned off belongings, and borrowed from his mother, but he told investigators he was not in dire need of money, according to the complaint.

Castellana, 55, was a Tinley Park resident who served as a Cook County Sheriff's Deputy for 35 years and retired in 2019. He was fatally shot outside a First Midwest Bank during the robbery attempt.

A complaint and indictment are merely allegations. All persons are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.

Related:

Tinley Park Man Identified As Guard Killed In Gary Bank Shooting | Tinley Park, IL Patch

Tinley Chief: Richard Castellana Made The World A Better Place | Tinley Park, IL Patch