NYC Daycare Owner Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges After Toddler's Fentanyl Death

October 30, 2024
NYC Daycare Owner Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges After Toddler's Fentanyl Death
  • U.S. Attorney Damian Williams condemned Mendez's actions, emphasizing the collateral damage caused by the fentanyl epidemic and the risks posed to innocent children.

  • Despite passing a surprise inspection by city officials, it was revealed that they were not trained to detect fentanyl during their compliance checks.

  • Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the city's health commissioner, acknowledged the urgent need for better training to identify synthetic opioids in childcare facilities.

  • Before alerting emergency responders about the unresponsive children, Mendez contacted her husband, who was later arrested in Mexico.

  • Following the incident, Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the importance of protecting children in the city and highlighted the dangers posed by illegal drug operations.

  • Grei Mendez, the owner of a New York City daycare center, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges following the tragic death of 22-month-old Nicholas Dominici due to fentanyl ingestion.

  • Mendez and her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, were found to be operating a fentanyl distribution operation from the daycare, which had previously passed health inspections.

  • In court, Mendez expressed deep remorse for her involvement, stating that it would haunt her for life, and revealed that her husband had encouraged her to open the daycare as a cover for his drug business.

  • The case has sparked increased scrutiny of daycare centers in New York City, with officials questioning how background checks failed to prevent such incidents.

  • Surveillance footage captured Herrera Garcia entering the daycare shortly before emergency responders arrived, leaving with bags full of drugs.

  • Investigators discovered that Herrera Garcia had been running a drug operation from the daycare since at least 2022, even after his brother died of fentanyl poisoning.

  • Felix Herrera Garcia was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his role in the drug trafficking operation, which was linked to the daycare.

Summary based on 10 sources


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