Bronx, N.Y., daycare owner where 1
- Grei Mendez, a 37-year-old daycare owner in the Bronx, pleaded guilty to selling fentanyl at her daycare, which resulted in a 1-year-old child's death and the poisoning of three other children.
- The daycare operated a drug distribution operation from October 2022 until September 15, 2023, when Mendez reported three unresponsive children to the police.
- Mendez's actions exemplify the tragic collateral damage caused by the fentanyl epidemic, highlighting the risks posed to innocent children by drug trafficking.
In a disturbing case from the Bronx, New York, Grei Mendez, owner of Divino Niño Daycare, pleaded guilty to serious charges linked to the sale of fentanyl from her facility. The case unfolded after a tragic incident on September 15, 2023, when Mendez contacted police after three children became unresponsive. One of the children, a 1-year-old, succumbed to the effects of fentanyl, while the others were treated for overdose with Narcan, further revealing the daycare's dire circumstances. Federal prosecutors revealed that Mendez and her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, had been operating a drug trafficking operation from the daycare, distributing narcotics since October 2022. Investigations led police to discover a substantial amount of fentanyl hidden in children's play areas, raising serious concerns about the safety of the children under their care. The charges against Mendez included conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious injury, which carry penalties of 20 years to life in prison. This case highlights the chilling repercussions of the ongoing fentanyl crisis, illustrating how individuals seeking profit often put the most vulnerable—children—at risk. Ultimately, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the collateral damage caused by the opioid epidemic, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures to safeguard communities against the devastating impacts of drug trafficking.