BRONX, NY – The ghosts of tiny victims haunt a Bronx daycare today as two men finally admitted their culpability in a drug operation that turned a place of learning and care into a scene of unimaginable horror. Felix Herrera Garcia, 35, and Renny Antonio Parra Paredes, 38, both of the Bronx, have pleaded guilty to federal narcotics offenses stemming from the September 15, 2023, fentanyl poisoning of four children at the Divino Nino Daycare Center. One child, a 22-month-old boy named Nicholas Dominici, tragically died.
The case, which U.S. Attorney Damian Williams described as “shock[ing] the conscience of the City,” revealed a brazen disregard for human life. According to court filings, Garcia and Paredes weren’t merely dealing drugs near the daycare – they were operating their fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and heroin operation within its walls. More than 10 kilograms of narcotics were stashed in hidden compartments beneath the playroom floor, a deadly playground for unsuspecting toddlers.
Garcia’s guilty plea came on the morning his trial was set to begin. He admitted to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury, one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death, and one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in serious bodily injury. Paredes, who pleaded guilty approximately two weeks prior on May 23, 2024, admitted to conspiring to distribute narcotics and stipulated that his actions led to the death and serious injury of the children.
The details are sickening. On September 15th, four children under the age of three were exposed to fentanyl. Three required hospitalization, battling for their lives while the poison coursed through their systems. Little Nicholas Dominici wasn’t so lucky. The investigation revealed a callous disregard for the safety of these vulnerable children, a profit-driven scheme that prioritized drug sales over the wellbeing of infants and toddlers. Bronx County District Attorney Darcel D. Clark emphasized the accountability for the tragic loss of Nicholas, and the serious harm inflicted on Abel, Kiara, and Jaziel.
Garcia now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a potential life sentence. Paredes is looking at a minimum of 10 years, with a maximum sentence of life behind bars. These sentences, while significant, can’t bring back Nicholas Dominici or erase the trauma suffered by the surviving children and their families. The DEA’s investigative work was lauded by Williams, a grim reminder that even in the face of such depravity, law enforcement continues to pursue justice.
This case serves as a chilling indictment of the fentanyl crisis and its devastating impact on communities. It’s a stark warning that the pursuit of profit, when combined with deadly drugs, can have catastrophic consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches, and will provide updates on any further developments. The question remains: will justice truly be served, or will these sentences fall short of the gravity of the crimes committed?
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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