The husband of the owner of a Bronx day care where four children were poisoned by fentanyl, leading to a 1-year-old’s death, entered a guilty plea to federal charges on Monday.
Felix Herrera Garcia was the fourth person arrested
in the case that began on Sept. 16, 2023, when three children — 1-year-old Nicholas Dominici, a 2-year-old boy, and an 8-month-old girl — didn’t wake up from nap time at the Divino Niño day care, operated by Herrera-Garcia’s wife, Grei Mendez.
Dominici passed away, and the two others along with another 2-year-old boy were hospitalized after being exposed to fentanyl at the center, which was located in a Bronx apartment. Authorities later discovered drug-packing materials as well as fentanyl and other narcotics totaling more than 10 kilograms under a trapdoor in the floor and underneath mats where children played and slept.
Surveillance footage captured Herrera-Garcia carrying two full shopping bags out of the apartment’s back alley minutes before responders arrived to help the children. He evaded authorities for over a week before being taken into custody in Sinaloa, Mexico.
Crime
Husband of NYC day care owner arrested in Mexico after toddler’s death
3:50 PM, Sep 26, 2023
On Monday — when the 35-year-old was set to begin trial — Herrera Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury, one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death, and one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in serious bodily injury. All three counts carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the Justice Department.
Cases are still pending against Mendez and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, who rented a room from Mendez in the apartment and is Herrera Garcia’s cousin. Both are facing murder and drug charges.
Two weeks ago, Renny Antonio Parra Paredes pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute narcotics and acknowledged that his actions caused death and serious bodily injury in connection to the poisonings, as stated by the DOJ. Officials noted that he played a significant role in selling large quantities of fentanyl from the apartment, making daily trips in the weeks leading up to the incident.
