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A New York City day care owner has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal drug charges related to the fentanyl death of a toddler.
Grei Mendez, 37, reacted with visible anguish as Judge Jed S. Rakoff announced the sentence, which caused emotional distress among Mendez’s family and the mother of 22-month-old Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, who died in September 2023.
Judge Rakoff had previously given the same sentence to Mendez’s husband, Felix Herrera-Garcia, who also pleaded guilty to drug charges and causing bodily harm. The couple faced a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Mendez pleaded guilty to drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death.
Before the sentencing, Mendez apologized to the families of children at her Divino Niño day care center, where narcotics were stored and packaged.
“I do want all to know it was an accident,” she said through an interpreter. “I am very sorry. I hope that someday I may be forgiven.”
On September 15, 2023, Feliz-Dominici died after being exposed to fentanyl. Three other children survived after receiving Narcan.
Police found fentanyl and drug packaging equipment at the day care.
Both of Feliz-Dominici’s parents spoke at the sentencing, expressing their inability to forgive Mendez and describing their enduring pain.
Judge Rakoff acknowledged the emotional impact, drawing a parallel to his own experience with his brother’s murder, but emphasized the need for legal perspective.
He stated that Mendez prioritized her own family’s welfare over the safety of the children in her care.
Prosecutors argued for a lengthy sentence, citing Mendez’s disregard of “clear warning signs” and her attempts to conceal evidence.
“And after tragedy struck, she lied to law enforcement and destroyed evidence in an effort to protect herself and her co-conspirators from their culpability in the death of one baby and poisoning of three others,” they wrote.
Acting US Attorney Matthew Podolsky stated that Mendez endangered infants by storing fentanyl at the day care.
