Former NYC daycare owner sentenced to 45 years for toddler’s fentanyl death
A former Bronx daycare owner has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a toddler in her care. Grei Mendez pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death after 22-month-old Nicholas Dominici ingested fentanyl at the daycare in September 2023.
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced Mendez’s sentencing on Monday, revealing the heartbreaking details of the case. Three other children were also seriously injured and hospitalized after being found unresponsive in the basement of the Bronx daycare facility. The mother of Dominici, Zoila Dominici, expressed her anger and grief in court, stating that she could never forgive Mendez for what happened to her son.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Mendez had Narcan kits at the daycare but did not attempt to revive the children who were suffering from an opioid overdose. Prosecutors emphasized that Mendez had the means to help the children but failed to use it, leading to the tragic death of one child and the poisoning of others.
Mendez operated the daycare out of a basement apartment in the Bronx where large quantities of fentanyl were mixed, packaged, and stored. Over 11 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin were hidden underneath the floor tiles in the playroom, posing a grave danger to the children in Mendez’s care. The indictment and court documents detailed how Mendez and her co-conspirators conspired to distribute narcotics from the daycare between June 2022 and September 2023.
The sentencing of Mendez comes as a small measure of justice for the grieving families affected by this tragedy. The court also heard from Otoniel Feliz, Dominici’s husband, who expressed his devastation at losing his only son due to Mendez’s negligence. Mendez, in a statement to the court through a Spanish interpreter, claimed that it was never her intention for the children to be poisoned and that she was traumatized by the events that transpired.
One of Mendez’s co-conspirators, her husband Felix Herrera Garcia, was arrested in Mexico in connection to the drug operation. Other individuals involved in the conspiracy were also charged with distributing narcotics resulting in death. The Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York emphasized that no punishment can make up for the loss of a child but that justice would be served for those who use children as shields in the drug trade.
The sentencing of Grei Mendez serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of drug trafficking and the importance of safeguarding the well-being of children in daycare facilities. The tragic death of Nicholas Dominici has left a lasting impact on his family and the community, underscoring the need for accountability and justice in cases of such egregious negligence.
