Bronx Daycare Owner Sentenced to 45 Years After Toddler's Fentanyl Death

Grei Mendez received the sentence for running a daycare that doubled as a drug operation, leading to the death of a 22-month-old and the poisoning of three other children.

Grei Mendez, 37, operated the Divino Niño daycare in the Bronx, where fentanyl was stored under floor tiles in areas where children played and slept.
The 2023 incident resulted in the death of 22-month-old Nicholas Feliz-Dominici and serious harm to three other children under the age of three, who were saved by emergency Narcan treatment.
Mendez pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and was sentenced alongside her husband, Felix Herrera-Garcia, who also received 45 years.
Prosecutors revealed that Mendez failed to administer Narcan despite having it on-site and attempted to cover up the drug operation when the children fell ill.
The case has prompted increased scrutiny and stricter regulations on daycare inspections in New York City, particularly in neighborhoods affected by fentanyl trafficking.