Day Care Owner, Co-Conspirators Guilty in Drug Case

Grei Mendez, the owner of a Bronx daycare where a toddler died from fentanyl poisoning, has pled guilty to federal drug charges, acknowledging her role in a narcotics distribution operation that led to the child's death and the hospitalization of three others. Her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, and co-conspirator Renny Antonio Parra Paredes also faced charges, with Herrera Garcia previously sentenced to 45 years in prison. The daycare, used as a front for distributing large quantities of fentanyl, concealed the drugs beneath playmats and in trap doors. This tragic case highlights the collateral damage of the fentanyl epidemic, raising concerns about the safety of children in such environments. Mendez, who faces a minimum of 20 years to life in prison, admitted her involvement and expressed remorse, saying the incident will haunt her.