Wed Mar 05 01:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Bronx Daycare Owner Sentenced to 45 Years for Fentanyl Death of Toddler

**New York, NY** – Grei Mendez, 37, the owner of a Bronx daycare that doubled as a narcotics stash house, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Monday for the fentanyl-related death of a 1-year-old child. Mendez pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury, as well as drug possession charges.

The tragic incident involved 22-month-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici, who died after exposure to fentanyl. Prosecutors revealed that play mats at the Divino Niño daycare were stored on top of a kilogram of fentanyl hidden beneath floor tiles. The daycare allegedly operated as a drug distribution center between June 2022 and September 2023, storing over 11 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin in hidden compartments.

Three other children at the daycare were also exposed to the drugs and suffered poisoning. Mendez’s cousin, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, faces separate charges related to the case and has pleaded not guilty.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky stated that while no sentence can compensate for the loss of a child, the lengthy prison term sends a strong message that those who endanger children in drug trafficking will face severe consequences. Mendez will also serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence.

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