A New York City daycare owner, Grei Mendez, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for her role in a tragic incident where a toddler died after ingesting fentanyl. The 37-year-old’s sentence was pronounced by Judge Jed S. Rakoff amidst emotional scenes, including sobs from Mendez’s family and the grieving mother of 22-month-old Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, who succumbed to the overdose in September 2023. Mendez had pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death.
Her husband, Felix Herrera-Garcia, also received a similar 45-year sentence after admitting to drug-related charges that contributed to the death of the child. Both faced a minimum of 20 years and a potential life sentence. During the court proceedings, Mendez expressed remorse, emphasising that the incident was accidental, but it did little to alleviate the pain felt by the families involved.
On the day of the poisoning, medical responders rushed Nicholas to hospital, but he could not be saved. Other children at the daycare were exposed to fentanyl but survived after receiving Narcan, an overdose-reversing medication. Authorities uncovered drugs stored dangerously close to children’s play areas, including a brick of fentanyl on play mats and packages hidden beneath a trap door.
Both parents of Nicholas spoke during the sentencing, with his mother stating that forgiveness was not an option, while his father lamented their ongoing anguish. Judge Rakoff gave a poignant reflection, recalling the pain from losing a sibling to violence, while stressing the importance of considering broader circumstances in the pursuit of justice.
Defence attorneys pointed to Mendez’s own childhood trauma in a bid for leniency, yet prosecutors insisted on a severe sentence, highlighting her negligence in failing to heed the distress signals from the children and her subsequent attempts to conceal evidence from law enforcement. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky described how Mendez put vulnerable infants at risk by operating a daycare in an environment rife with hidden fentanyl, labelling her actions as reckless and harmful.
This tragic case has raised significant concerns regarding the safety practices in childcare establishments, particularly in relation to drug-related activities, leading to calls for stricter oversight and accountability in similar settings.