Grei Mendez, who ran a day care center in New York City, has admitted guilt to federal drug charges tied to the tragic death of her 22-month-old charge, Nicholas Dominici, who died after ingesting fentanyl. The confession came more than a year following the incident in September 2023, as she appeared in Manhattan court to plead guilty on multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics that resulted in death.
In a somber moment during the hearing, Mendez, 37, expressed her remorse and outlined her involvement in a drug operation alongside her husband, Felix Herrera-Garcia, who recently received a 45-year prison sentence for similar crimes. Mendez recounted how she believed her husband’s motives for establishing the day care were noble, only to discover it was a facade for his illicit drug activities.
Set to be sentenced on March 3, Mendez faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, with the risk of receiving a life sentence. While three other children also exposed to the fentanyl at the day care were revived with Narcan, police discovered a sizable stash of the drug and associated paraphernalia concealed in the children’s play area, indicating the extent of the operation.
Further complicating her case, investigators noted that she attempted to mask the drug activities upon realizing some children were unresponsive, calling her husband prior to contacting emergency responders. Authorities emphasized the grave implications of Mendez's actions, portraying her as a participant in a harmful scheme that jeopardized innocent lives. Meanwhile, Mendez has also faced state charges for murder, manslaughter, and assault, for which she has pleaded not guilty, as her lawyers have previously maintained that she was unaware of her husband's drug dealings.
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