Two of the four accused in the case of the fatal overdose death of a one-year-old boy and poisoning of three other children have been arrested. The Bronx, New YorkLast year, more than 100 children involved in the day care pleaded guilty to criminal charges before their trials.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams announced Monday that Felix Herrera Garcia, 35, has pleaded guilty to single counts of conspiracy to distribute drugs resulting in death and serious bodily injury, possession with intent to distribute drugs resulting in death, and possession with intent to distribute drugs resulting in serious bodily injury.
The charges are in connection with the poisoning of four children under the age of three, one of whom died on September 15, 2023, at a day care center in the Bronx.
Nearly two weeks ago, Renee Antonio Parra Paredes, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Part of his plea agreement stated that his role in poisoning the children resulted in their deaths and serious bodily injury.
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In September 2023, one child died and three others were hospitalized after fentanyl was found at a Bronx day care center. (Peter Gerber for Fox News Digital)
“Four children were poisoned with fentanyl at a Bronx day care in September 2023,” Williams said. “The children were seriously injured, and one child died. This happened because, as they admitted in court, Felix Herrera Garcia and Renee Antonio Parra Paredes ran an illegal fentanyl operation out of the center, where they processed deadly drugs for sale. We said at the time that this case shocked the city’s conscience, and now Herrera Garcia and Parra Paredes have been brought to justice for this heinous crime.”
Garcia, the husband of the day care owner, was arrested in Sinaloa, Mexico, home to the Sinaloa drug trafficking gang once run by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Along with Garcia and Parra Paredes (also known as “El Gallo”), Divino Niño daycare owner Grei Mendez de Ventura, 36, and neighbor Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, were also arrested on Sept. 16 and Sept. 17. Charged in federal court conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and drugs Distribution Resulting in death, which is punishable with a maximum of life imprisonment.
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Police found a large amount of fentanyl and other drugs and drug paraphernalia on a mesh floor in a play area at a Bronx day care center. (NYPD)
Ventura and Brito also face 11 charges, including assault, involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, after a child died and three others were injured after being exposed to fentanyl on Sept. 15.
Two of the victims were in cardiac arrest when first responders arrived on the scene, and Narcan was used on the other children, officials said.
According to the complaint, Parra Paredes and others, including Mendez and Brito, conspired to distribute fentanyl at locations including a day care center in the Bronx between July and September 2023.
Despite the presence of children, including infants, Parra Paredes and co-conspirators located large quantities of drugs, including one kilogram of fentanyl on top of the children’s play mats, and large quantities of suspected drugs were placed in nets on the floor of a room where the children played and slept. Federal Complaint States.
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Drugs were found beneath the floorboards at a day care center in the Bronx. (NYPD)
A search of the day care facility resulted in the discovery of drug packaging materials, such as glassine envelopes bearing the words “Red Dawn” in red ink and used to distribute drugs.
Following Parra Paredes’ arrest, his apartment was searched, yielding shopping bags filled with tools and equipment used to prepare and distribute drugs, such as strainers, tape, grinders, plastic bags, and digital scales.
Investigators also found two clear plastic bags and a rectangular package filled with brown powder suspected to contain narcotics, as well as some envelopes stamped “Red Dawn,” similar to those found at the day care facility.
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Along with the envelopes, investigators also found a “Red Dawn” stamp tool in the apartment.
Garcia and Parra Paredes face a minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on each count.
