Owner, Grei Mendez De Ventura, of NYC daycare where boy, 1, died from fentanyl exposure is slapped with federal drug conspiracy charges

The owner of a New York daycare where a 1-year-old boy died from exposure to fentanyl has been charged with drug conspiracy by the federal government, along with her husband’s cousin.

Grei Mendez De Ventura, 36, owner of Divino Nino daycare, and his alleged accomplice Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, were charged Tuesday in Manhattan District Court with one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics with resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute drugs resulting in death. the death.

Prosecutors said the two men “used the daycare’s facade to conceal their real operation: a fentanyl drug manufacturing factory.”

Nicholas Feliz Dominici, a one-year-old boy who had only been at the center for a week, died from possible exposure to fentanyl. Three other children fell ill and were hospitalized, including one in critical condition.

The two men allegedly cut drugs near the area where the children were napping. De Ventura allegedly stood aside while her colleagues cut the opioid. Some fentanyl particles were released into the air and the children were believed to have inhaled the deadly drug, sources said.

De Ventura’s alleged co-conspirator, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41 (pictured), kept his head down as he left New York’s 52nd Precinct after also being arrested in connection with the overdose.

Pictured: Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, 1, died Friday after ingesting fentanyl at a Bronx daycare

A third suspect is being sought in this case.

According to reports, Da Ventura called several people before calling authorities for help for the children. One of those people she allegedly called was her husband, described as the ringleader of the drug operation.

He is still on the run. An NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that they were still looking for him and the investigation was ongoing.

Da Ventura, 36, opened the Bronx daycare earlier this year and on September 6 passed a surprise inspection.

The home day care was registered with the city’s Department of Children and Family Services.

The g by Nicholas Feliz-DominiciDistressed parents Zoila Dominici and Otoniel Feliz said the daycare was recommended by the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.

Heartbroken parents of five were trying to come to terms with the unexpected and tragic death of their youngest child.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said Monday that police found “one kilo of fentanyl in an area used for children to nap.”

He further explained that the fentanyl “was under a rug where the children were sleeping earlier.” And he explained that the area where the children allegedly took naps was located in a room at the back of the apartment.

Authorities say nearly a kilogram of fentanyl and a kilogram of press, a device typically used to combine fentanyl with cocaine or heroin, were discovered.

Kenny said “One grain, two grains of fentanyl can kill an adult male, so even the residue from a small child would cause death.”

No reports or complaints have been filed against Divino Nino Daycare.

However, a longtime neighbor said she had never seen children arrive or leave the center.

“It was daycare for a year with no kids. For a year she had a daycare with no children but people went there. But no babies?” she said. The New York Post.

She also said Da Ventura would not allow his own child to stay there.

“A daycare without children or men coming in and out. Yes, we knew something. We knew something was wrong there.

“We all said, ‘Drugs.’ How can you not know that?

She alleged that Da Ventura’s daycare started getting busier two months ago when she started having a few children, including a baby two months ago and then two more children a few weeks before the tragedy.