A woman who owned a New York City day care center where a toddler died after ingesting fentanyl has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal drug charges.

Grei Mendez tried to delete thousands of messages while she was being questioned by police investigators after a child died in her care. Many were recovered, and they were damning.

Grei Mendez, 37, operated Divino Niño Daycare out of a small apartment where four children were overcome by fentanyl intoxication, including Nicholas Dominici who died.

Grei Mendez had pleaded guilty to drug charges including conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death.

Grei Mendez – the woman who owned and ran a Bronx day care where a 1-year-old boy died of fentanyl poisoning in a 2023 case that drew national attention – was sentenced to 45 years in prison Monday in a tearful proceeding in Manhattan federal court.