Bronx, New York, daycare owner where 1-year-old child died pleads guilty

UPI — A search of Divino Niño Daycare in the Bronx, New York in September 2023 revealed drugs and drug paraphernalia. Gray Mendes pleaded guilty Tuesday to running a daycare drug distribution center after four children became ill from drugs, including a one-year-old boy who died. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Justice/Release

October 29 (UPI) — The owner of a Bronx, New York, daycare center where four children under her care were poisoned with fentanyl last year, including a one-year-old who died, pleaded guilty Tuesday to selling the powerful and dangerous drug from the center.

Gray Mendes, 37, pleaded guilty in court Tuesday to conspiracy to possess and distribute large amounts of fentanyl from a Bronx daycare, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.

“Mendez’s good behavior led to the needless and tragic death of a child and the poisoning of three others,” Williams said. statement.

“From the start, this case has shown the senseless collateral damage caused by the fentanyl epidemic and should remind us all that the demand for illegal drugs so often puts innocent bystanders at risk while drug traffickers ruthlessly pursue profits.”

Mendes admitted his guilt one count each of conspiracy to distribute drugs causing death and serious bodily injury, possession with intent to distribute drugs causing death and possession with intent to distribute drugs causing serious bodily injury.

The charges carry a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

Prosecutors accused of her and her husband, Felix Herrera García, to run a drug operation at their Divino Niño daycare center in the Bronx. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison on October 16 after pleading guilty in June.

According to federal prosecutors, the couple distributed drugs at the daycare from October 2022 until the day on Sept. 15, 2023, when Mendez called police about the three children, ages 8 months to 2 years, who were unresponsive.

The children were rushed to the hospital, where the one-year-old boy died. The other two children were treated with Narcan, an opioid overdose drug. Later, a fourth child, who was taken from the center earlier, was admitted to the hospital.

Police searched the facility and found 1 kilogram of fentanyl in a bag stacked on children’s rugs in a hallway closet. Additional drugs were also found under the floor of the trap, along with tools used to distribute them.