GREI MENDEZ | Operator of Recently Inspected NY Daycare That Was Secret Stash House Pleads Guilty After Toddler Dies From Fentanyl Poisoning | Fed Kids With Fentanyl-Laced Utensils | Autographed Letter, Signed

Grei Mendez. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). N.p. N.d. Content unknown. SEALED.

Overview of Grei Mendez’s Case

Grei Mendez is a central figure in a tragic case involving the distribution of fentanyl at a daycare center in the Bronx, New York. In September 2023, her daycare, Divino Niño, became the site of a horrific incident where four children were exposed to fentanyl, resulting in the death of a 22-month-old boy named Nicholas Dominici and serious injuries to three other children. The exposure occurred due to Mendez and her husband, Felix Herrera-Garcia, allegedly operating a drug trafficking operation out of the daycare facility.

Charges and Guilty Plea

On November 14, 2024, Grei Mendez pleaded guilty to federal drug charges that included conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death. This plea came more than a year after the fatal incident. During her court appearance in Manhattan, she expressed remorse for her actions, acknowledging that she conspired with her husband and another individual to possess and distribute narcotics. Mendez admitted that she helped package and store these drugs within the premises of the daycare.

Circumstances Surrounding the Incident

The investigation revealed that from July to September 2023, Mendez and her co-conspirators maintained large quantities of fentanyl at the daycare despite it being a place for young children. Law enforcement discovered significant amounts of narcotics hidden beneath trap doors in areas where children played and slept. The presence of drug paraphernalia was alarming; it included kilo presses used for packaging drugs and even a kilogram of fentanyl stored on top of children’s playmats.

On September 15, 2023, emergency services were called when several children at the daycare became unresponsive. It was later determined that they had suffered from fentanyl poisoning. While three children survived after receiving Narcan (an overdose-reversing medication), Nicholas Dominici tragically lost his life.

Mendez’s Role and Sentencing

Mendez’s involvement extended beyond mere negligence; prosecutors indicated that she took steps to cover up the drug operation after realizing some children were not waking up from their naps. She contacted her husband before alerting emergency responders about the situation at the daycare. Surveillance footage captured Herrera-Garcia entering and exiting the building shortly before first responders arrived.

As part of her guilty plea agreement, Mendez faces severe penalties including a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison with potential life imprisonment upon sentencing scheduled for March 3, 2025.

Conclusion

The case against Grei Mendez highlights not only individual culpability but also broader societal issues related to drug trafficking and its devastating impact on vulnerable populations such as children. Her actions have drawn significant public attention due to their tragic consequences and have been described by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams as “reprehensible.” The husband of the owner of a New York City day care where a 1-year-old child died of fentanyl poisoning was sentenced Wednesday to 45 years in prison. Felix Herrera Garcia, 35, pleaded guilty in June to federal drug charges for trafficking fentanyl out of the day care center.

VIDEO: NYC day care owner faces federal drug charges after baby dies from fentanyl | https://youtu.be/LFdpFVouPjA

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