A New York man gets 45 years in prison for fatal fentanyl overdose of toddler at daycare

NEW YORK (TNND) — The husband of a former New York daycare operator was sentenced to 45 years behind bars for his involvement in a fentanyl trafficking case that led to the death of a 22-month-old boy.

Felix Herrera Garcia learned his fate Thursday, marking just over a year since Nicholas Dominici suffered a fatal opioid overdose after ingesting fentanyl at Divino Niño Daycare in the Bronx.

Three other children, ages 8 months to 2 years old, were hospitalized in September 2023 after “experiencing the effects of poisoning from fentanyl exposure” at daycare, according to Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney’s Office. southern district. of New York.

“Felix Herrera Garcia ran a deadly fentanyl trafficking ring from a Bronx daycare, recklessly putting babies at risk of fentanyl exposure. Tragically, on September 15, 2023, one child was killed and four others were poisoned by the defendant’s deadly drugs at the day care center,” Williams said in a news release.

This case demonstrates the deadly reach and scale of the fentanyl epidemic and the profound damage it is inflicting on American lives, including the lives of the most vulnerable among us. This office and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to ensure that anyone who harms or endangers the lives of children in connection with their deadly drug activities is brought to justice,” Williams added.

Herrera Garcia, 35, whose Williams pleaded guilty to multiple charges in June, is one of several people charged in connection with the case.

Herrera Garcia’s wife, Grei Mendez, who authorities say ran the daycare, was separately charged with murder, possession of narcotics and assault. Carlisto Acevedo Brito, who rented a room from Mendez, was also charged with murder, as well as federal narcotics charges resulting in death.

Their cases are pending.

Federal prosecutors said Mendez tried to cover up the crimes as medics rushed to treat the poisoned children.

Mendez discovered the children did not wake up from their nap Friday afternoon, Williams previously said. She then made three calls, including two to her husband, before calling 911, the complaint alleges.

“A few seconds before Mendez called 911, she called a co-conspirator,” Williams said. “A few minutes later, a co-conspirator arrived at the daycare.”

Renny Antonio Parra Paredes, meanwhile, was charged with drug distribution resulting in death. Federal prosecutors said Paredes, who also went by “El Gallo,” played an “instrumental role” in selling large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs in connection with the case.

According to court documents, from October 2022 to September 2023, Herrera Garcia and his co-conspirators hid at least 25 pounds of fentanyl and heroin “in secret compartments or traps under the floor tiles in the game room.”

The so-called shelters were located in places where “the children played, ate and slept every day,” the documents said.

Herrera Garcia, who fled the U.S. after the overdoses and was on the run in Mexico for about two weeks before he was arrested, admitted to keeping fentanyl under the floor in the daycare playroom, prosecutors said.

New York Mayor Eric Adams previously said the three children who lived there each received doses of Narcan, which he believes most likely saved their lives. He thanked the paramedics for their hard work and dedication.

Those first responders identified the symptoms of what these children were experiencing,” the mayor said.

In addition to the 45-year prison sentence, Herrera Garcia was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

When given the opportunity to speak before the verdict was handed down, Herrera Garcia said he hoped the children’s families could one day forgive him. He said he and his child had been playing with the children.

He also said he tried to save two of the children and only fled when an ambulance arrived.

“At night I have nightmares about what happened that day,” he said.

Judge Jed S. Rakoff rejected a request by prosecutors that Herrera Garcia receive life in prison, saying the death was not a premeditated murder but more akin to manslaughter, showing a depraved indifference to human life.

“This is so far removed from everyday manslaughter,” the judge added.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.