A Woman Who Owned a New York City Day Care Center Where a Toddler Died after Ingesting Fentanyl Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison

Grei Mendez Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges, Including Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics Resulting in Death

Grei Mendez, 37, the owner of a New York City day care center, was sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death. The sentence was handed down by Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who also sentenced Mendez’s husband, Felix Herrera-Garcia, to the same sentence after he pleaded guilty to drug charges and causing bodily harm related to the death.

A Tragic Incident that Led to a Toddler’s Death

On September 15, 2023, a 22-month-old child, Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, ingested fentanyl at the Divino Niño day care center, which Mendez operated out of a Bronx apartment. The child was rushed to the hospital, where he died. Three other children who were also exposed to the fentanyl survived after receiving the overdose-reversing drug Narcan.

A Hidden Dangers at the Day Care Center

Police found a brick of fentanyl stored on top of playmats for the children, along with equipment often used to package drugs, as well as packages of fentanyl beneath a trap door in a play area. The discovery shed light on the extreme dangers that the children were exposed to at the day care center.

Families’ Emotional Statements

The child’s parents, Feliz-Dominici, spoke at the sentencing, with his mother stating that it was not possible to forgive Mendez and his father describing the lasting pain, saying, “We’re living, but we’re not alive.”

Judge’s Remarks

Judge Rakoff cited the emotions he once felt when his older brother was “murdered in cold blood,” but he added that the “glory of the law is not to ignore emotions but to put them in broader perspective.” He stated that Mendez had chosen to put the welfare of her own children and her husband above the welfare of the families and their children who became customers of her day care business.

Conclusion

Grei Mendez’s 45-year sentence serves as a warning to those who would put the lives of innocent children at risk for their own selfish gain. The tragedy that unfolded at the Divino Niño day care center is a reminder of the devastating consequences of fentanyl abuse and the importance of protecting our children from harm.

FAQs

* What was the outcome of the case?
The owner of the day care center, Grei Mendez, was sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death.
* How many children were affected by the fentanyl exposure?
Four children were exposed to the fentanyl, with one 22-month-old child, Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, dying as a result.
* What was found at the day care center?
Police discovered a brick of fentanyl, equipment often used to package drugs, and packages of fentanyl beneath a trap door in a play area.