Woman sentenced to 45 years for trafficking drugs inside day care center that killed 1-year-old
In September 2023, police raided the Davino Nino day care center in Kingsbridge after they said multiple young children were found unconscious.
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Grei Mendez, the former owner of a Bronx day care, was sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty last year to three counts related to drug possession and distribution inside a child care center.
In September 2023, police raided the Davino Nino day care center in Kingsbridge after they said multiple young children were found unconscious.
Police said three children survived and one did not.
One-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici died after being exposed to fentanyl.
“I’ll wait for [Mendez] to pay,” said Zoila Dominici, the victim’s mother. “I’d like to say that I hope [Nicholas is] coming back, but he’s not going to return.”
RELATED: Bronx day care owner pleads guilty after police say 1-year-old died from fentanyl exposure in 2023
Officials said they discovered 1 kilo of fentanyl and drug packaging equipment, with traces of opioids on play mats where children under the age of two played and slept.
“We don’t want another child to be exposed to risks in a place where they’re supposed to be taken of,” said Ontoniel Feliz, the victim’s father.
Mendez’s family declined to comment outside of the courthouse.
Mendez herself addressed the court inside... Apologizing to the children’s families.
Dominici said she is not forgiving Mendez.
“No, let God forgive her,” Dominici said. “[Nicholas is] not coming back with a sorry.”
Judge Jed Rakoff said 45 years is “close to a maximum or life sentence” for the 37-year-old Mendez.
Last fall, the same judge sentenced Mendez’s husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, to 45 years in federal prison for drug trafficking out of the day care.
