The owner of a New York City day care center, Grei Mendez, and her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, have faced federal narcotics charges in connection with the poisoning of four children at their center. Nicholas Dominici, a toddler, tragically died from exposure to fentanyl at the center, while two others were found unresponsive. Mendez called 911 only after contacting her husband, who was captured in Mexico after fleeing. Surveillance footage showed Herrera Garcia leaving the center with items in bags before first responders arrived. Between October 2022 and September, Herrera Garcia and others conspired to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and para-fluorofentanyl from the day care center.
Herrera Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death. His co-defendant, Renny Antonio Parra Paredes, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute narcotics. Prosecutors alleged that more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl were hidden in secret compartments beneath the floor of the playroom and that fentanyl was found on children’s sleeping mats. The defendants each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Authorities described the operation at the day care center as a “fentanyl mill,” where large quantities of dangerous drugs were stored and distributed. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of Nicholas Dominici and serious harm to other children. Bronx County District Attorney, Darcel D. Clark, stated that Herrera Garcia has finally been held accountable for the harm caused to the children. Mendez and another defendant, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, were also charged with federal counts of narcotics possession with intent to distribute resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death.
The case has shocked the city with its heinous nature, leading to the defendants facing serious consequences for their actions. Parra Paredes expressed regret for what happened to the children and accepted responsibility for his role in the incident. The tragic poisoning at the day care center has highlighted the dangers of illicit drug distribution and the devastating impact it can have on innocent victims. The community has been left mourning the loss of Nicholas Dominici and hoping for justice to be served for all those affected by this tragedy.
The guilty pleas by Herrera Garcia and Parra Paredes have brought some closure to the families of the victims, but the pain and suffering caused by the incident will not easily be forgotten. The legal process has begun to hold those responsible for the children’s poisoning accountable, with Mendez and Acevedo Brito also facing charges in connection to the distribution of narcotics resulting in death. The community is left grappling with the senseless loss of life and the need for stricter measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Authorities have emphasized the need for vigilance in combating the distribution of dangerous drugs like fentanyl and heroin, which can have devastating consequences for individuals and communities. The case of the poisoned children at the day care center serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illicit drug operations and the importance of holding those involved accountable for their actions. As the legal process unfolds, the hope is that justice will be served for the victims and their families, bringing some measure of closure to a heartbreaking chapter in the city’s history.
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