A New York City day care owner has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal drug charges in connection with the fentanyl poisoning of four children, one of whom died.Grei Mendez, 37, who operated the Divino Niño day care out of a Bronx apartment, was sentenced by US District Judge Jed S. Rakoff on Monday. The judge had previously imposed the same sentence on her husband, Felix Herrera-Garcia, who also pleaded guilty to drug charges and causing bodily harm. The couple faced a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life for their crimes.Mendez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death. Before sentencing, she expressed remorse, saying, “I do want all to know it was an accident. I am very sorry. I hope that someday I may be forgiven.”The incident occurred on September 15, 2023, when 22-month-old Nicholas Feliz-Dominici and three other children were exposed to fentanyl at the day care. Feliz-Dominici was rushed to a hospital, where he died, while the other children survived after receiving Narcan. Investigators later discovered fentanyl stored on playmats and beneath a trapdoor in the play area, along with drug-packaging materials.During sentencing, the victim’s mother said it was impossible to forgive Mendez, while the child’s father described his enduring pain: “We’re living, but we’re not alive.” Judge Rakoff acknowledged the emotional toll, recalling his own experience of losing a brother to murder, but emphasized that the law must consider a broader perspective. He criticized Mendez for prioritizing the welfare of her family over the safety of the children entrusted to her care.Prosecutors alleged Mendez used the day care as a front for drug trafficking. According to court documents, she initially denied knowledge of the narcotics but later deleted over 20,000 WhatsApp messages from her phone, including conversations with her husband about drug dealings.“She had the key to helping these children and didn’t use it,” prosecutor Maggie Lynaugh said, noting that Mendez noticed Feliz-Dominici was struggling an hour before calling 911. Prosecutors argued she failed to act promptly, withheld critical information from emergency responders, and attempted to cover up the drug operation.Following the child’s death, authorities uncovered over 11 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin hidden in compartments beneath the floor, with kitchen utensils used for both food preparation and drug packaging. One prosecutor suggested that the likely source of the poisoning was the children’s lunch.Mendez had previously claimed she was unaware of any drug activity at the day care. “I know that stuff kills,” she told investigators. However, prosecutors pointed to evidence showing she had received references from known drug traffickers when applying to open the day care. One reference, from Renny Antonio Parra Paredes—who later admitted to packaging narcotics at the site—praised her childcare skills. Another, from an unnamed person, described her as “a lovely caregiver.”During the sentencing hearing, Mendez pleaded for leniency, saying, “Believe me, this has left me traumatized. Please have some pity toward me.” Her lawyer, Paul King, argued that she had no prior drug-related offenses and had suffered trauma in her own childhood.However, prosecutors maintained that she bore “primary responsibility for involving babies” in the narcotics operation. “After tragedy struck, she lied to law enforcement and destroyed evidence in an effort to protect herself and her co-conspirators,” they wrote in court filings.The case has sparked outrage among parents and officials, raising questions about how a child care center could be used as a drug stash house. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities examining additional connections within the drug operation.
Toddler’s fentanyl death: Day care owner sentenced to 45 years in prison for
