Additional Coverage:
Day Care Owner’s Husband Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking
Felix Herrera Garcia, 35, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl out of the Bronx day care center he owned with his wife.
In September 2023, a 1-year-old boy attending the day care died from fentanyl poisoning, while three other children were hospitalized for Narcan treatment.
Prosecutors revealed that Herrera Garcia and his associates hid over 11 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin in secret compartments under the playroom floor where children spent time.
After the child’s death, Herrera Garcia fled to Mexico but was arrested after a week-long manhunt. His wife, Grei Mendez, has also been charged in connection with the drug scheme.
Mendez had reportedly removed her and Herrera Garcia’s son from the day care due to suspected fentanyl exposure but did not report it to authorities or close the facility for other children.
Herrera Garcia’s 45-year sentence includes five years of supervised release upon completion.