Two of four defendants charged in connection with the overdose death of a 1-year-old boy and the poisoning of three other children at a Bronx, New York, daycare last fall have pleaded guilty to criminal charges. before their trials.
Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced Monday that Félix Herrera García, 35, pleaded guilty to single counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury, possession with intent to distributing narcotics resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in serious bodily injury.
All charges are related to the poisoning of four children under the age of three, including one who died at a daycare in the Bronx on September 15, 2023.
Almost two weeks ago, Renny Antonio Parra Paredes, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Part of his plea agreement stipulated that he caused death and serious bodily injury in connection with his role in poisoning children.
OVERDOSE AT BRONX DAYCARE: 3 SUSPECTS FACE JUDGE OVER FENTANYL DEATH OF 1-YEAR-OLD CHILD
One child died and three others were hospitalized after fentanyl was found at a Bronx daycare in September 2023. (Peter Gerber for Fox News Digital)
“In September 2023, four children at a Bronx daycare center were poisoned with fentanyl,” Williams said. “The children were seriously injured and one baby died. This happened because, as they admitted in court, Félix Herrera García and Renny Antonio Parra Paredes operated an illegal fentanyl operation outside the center, where they processed the deadly drugs for sale. He said in “It is time that this case moves the conscience of the city, and now Herrera García and Parra Paredes have been brought to justice for this atrocious crime.”
García, husband of the daycare owner, was arrested in Sinaloa, Mexico, where the Sinaloa drug cartel, once led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, is based.
Along with García and Parra Paredes, also known as “El Gallo”, the owner of the Divino Niño daycare, Grei Méndez De Ventura, 36, and neighbor Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, who were arrested on September 16 and charged in federal court with conspiracy. distribution of narcotics resulting in death and distribution of narcotics resulting in death, which carry maximum penalties of life imprisonment.
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Police discovered a large amount of fentanyl and other narcotics and drug paraphernalia recovered on a trap floor in the Bronx daycare play area. (NYPD)
Ventura and Brito also face 11 charges, including assault, murder with depraved indifference and child endangerment after a child died, and three others were injured on Sept. 15 due to possible fentanyl exposure.
Authorities said two of the victims went into cardiac arrest when first responders arrived at the scene and that Narcan was used on the young children.
According to the complaint, Parra Paredes and others, including Méndez and Brito, between July and September 2023, conspired to distribute fentanyl, including at a daycare in the Bronx.
Despite the presence of children, including infants, Parra Paredes and co-conspirators had large quantities of narcotics, including one kilogram of fentanyl stored on top of the children's play mats, and large quantities of suspected narcotics in traps located on the floor. of the room. where the children played and slept, the federal complaint states.
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Drugs were discovered under the floor of a daycare in the Bronx. (NYPD)
A search of the daycare resulted in the discovery of narcotic packaging materials, such as glass envelopes stamped with “RED DAWN” in red ink and used to distribute drugs.
After Parra Paredes' arrest, a search was carried out in his apartment in which bags with tools and instruments used to prepare and distribute narcotics were found, such as strainers, adhesive tape, a grinder, plastic bags and digital scales.
Investigators also found two clear plastic bags filled with a grayish powder and a rectangular-shaped package suspected of containing narcotics, as well as envelopes stamped “RED DAWN,” like what was found at the daycare.
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Along with the envelopes, investigators found the “RED DAWN” stamping tool in the apartment.
García and Parra Paredes each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison for each count.
