In a shocking and tragic incident, authorities have uncovered a horrifying discovery involving a daycare owner and a kilogram of Fentanyl.
The repercussions of this discovery led to several children overdosing on the deadly drug, with the most devastating consequence being the loss of a one-year-old child.
Grei Mendez, the daycare owner, allegedly took elaborate steps to conceal her involvement in a sprawling drug operation while medical professionals scrambled to treat the poisoned children in her care.
As a result, federal prosecutors have now levied new federal narcotics conspiracy charges against Mendez and a man named Carlisto Acevedo Brito, who rented a room from her. Previously, they were charged in state court with "depraved indifference" murder in connection with the tragic death of one-year-old Nicholas Dominici.
Officials have disclosed that a kilogram of Fentanyl was found stored atop play mats that were regularly used by the children attending the daycare center in the Bronx. In addition to the shocking discovery, authorities also located equipment used for packaging and mixing narcotics within the premises.
This deadly Fentanyl is suspected to have caused illness in four children, tragically resulting in the death of Nicholas and hospitalization of three others, aged between 8 months and 2 years.
The ordeal unfolded when, on a fateful Friday afternoon, Mendez, aged 36, realized that the young children under her care were not waking up from their naptime. Instead of promptly alerting medical professionals, she made three phone calls, including two to her husband, before finally dialing 911.
Surveillance footage captured her husband entering the Bronx apartment and hastily removing at least two full shopping bags from the building through a back alley. Shortly thereafter, emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, encountering children displaying signs of opioid intoxication.
Federal authorities suggest that these phone calls, along with the apparent deletion of thousands of text messages exchanged between Mendez and her husband, indicate an attempt to cover up the narcotics operation conducted within the apartment.
Mendez's husband remains unnamed in the complaint, and it remains unclear whether he has been in contact with law enforcement since the incident.
Brito, a 41-year-old tenant residing in the same apartment and a cousin of Mendez's husband, has also been charged alongside Mendez for his purported role in the drug operations. New York City police reported the discovery of a kilogram press device inside a closet within Brito's adjoining room.
Both Mendez and Brito have vehemently denied any knowledge of drugs being present in the daycare center.
Andres Aranda, an attorney representing Mendez, stated that his client was "terrified" upon discovering the unresponsive children and took immediate action to seek medical assistance. As for Brito, there has been no immediate response from his attorney.
Notably, the daycare facility had opened its doors in January of the same year and had passed all inspections, including a surprise visit by inspectors on September 6.
In another news, a recent high school graduate is speaking out about a distressing incident involving her former principal and school administrators. See detailed story here
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