A man from New York has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl out of a daycare, where a toddler died and three other children were poisoned. Felix Herrera Garcia, 35, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death, and possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death. Garcia, along with his wife and two others, were charged after the poisoning incident at the Divino Niño day care center in the Bronx in September 2023. Garcia was captured in Mexico after fleeing the country.
One of the children affected by the fentanyl poisoning was Nicholas Dominici, a 22-month-old toddler who tragically passed away. Two other children were found unresponsive at the daycare, which prosecutors described as being operated as a “fentanyl mill.” A third child was also discovered to be lethargic and unresponsive at home after being picked up. Surviving children had to be administered the overdose reversal drug naloxone, also known as Narcan. Prosecutors stated that between October 2022 and September 2023, Garcia and his co-conspirators conspired to sell drugs out of the daycare, keeping over 11 kilograms of fentanyl hidden in secret compartments under the floor tiles in the playroom.
According to the criminal complaint, the children at the daycare were exposed to fentanyl on a daily basis while playing, eating, and sleeping. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated in a release that Herrera Garcia had recklessly endangered the lives of infants by exposing them to fentanyl. Garcia’s lawyers, listed in court records, could not be reached for comment. The tragic incident highlights the dangers and consequences of drug trafficking and the devastating impact it can have on innocent victims, particularly young children.
The sentencing of Herrera Garcia to 45 years in prison serves as a stern reminder of the severity of drug-related crimes, particularly when they result in death or harm to innocent individuals. The fact that the daycare was being used as a front for drug trafficking exposes the vulnerability of children to dangerous substances when criminal activities are carried out in close proximity to them. The court’s decision to impose a lengthy prison term and supervised release demonstrates the seriousness of the offenses committed by Garcia and his co-conspirators, and sends a message about the repercussions of putting the lives of children at risk for the sake of illegal drug operations.
The tragic death of Nicholas Dominici and the poisoning of the other children shed light on the destructive impact of fentanyl and the urgent need to combat drug trafficking and the opioid crisis. The use of Narcan to save the lives of the affected children underscores the critical importance of having access to overdose reversal drugs in cases of opioid exposure. The justice served by the sentencing of Herrera Garcia provides a measure of closure to the families affected by the daycare poisoning, but also serves as a stark warning about the dangers of drug-related crimes and the critical need to protect vulnerable populations from harmful substances.
In conclusion, the sentencing of Felix Herrera Garcia to 45 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl out of a daycare, resulting in the death of a toddler and poisoning of three other children, underscores the serious consequences of drug-related crimes. The case serves as a vivid illustration of the devastating impact of drug trafficking on innocent victims, particularly young children who are exposed to dangerous substances. The court’s decision to impose a lengthy prison term and supervised release reflects the gravity of the offenses committed and sends a strong message about the need to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable. The tragic incident underscores the urgency of addressing drug trafficking and the opioid crisis to protect vulnerable populations and prevent further harm in communities.
