Separately, Mayor Eric Adams, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Police Commissioner Edward Caban and others confirmed during a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at One Police Plaza in Manhattan that a second New York City daycare center (located in Manhattan North) has been shut down following the execution of three search warrants and the subsequent discovery of ghost guns in an unlocked room, and a ghost gun 3D printing machine at the center.

 

NYPD Deputy Police Commissioner for Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Rebecca Weiner said three people were arrested during the raid, including two minors. The investigation is ongoing. She said Jamaal Coley 18, was one of those involved in the 3-D printing of the ghost guns and that the licensed daycare center was also based out of a private residence and located in Manhattan’s 25th Precinct, which encompasses the northern portion of East Harlem, home to a large residential community, as well as Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem Art Park, and the 125th Street Metro-North Station.

 

Weiner said the center was operated by Coley’s mother. She said law enforcement also found an “obviously maltreated and neglected dog” at the scene. “NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Unit responded and removed the dog for evaluation,” she said. Weiner added that the incident was part of a larger global problem – the manufacture and sale of privately made firearms [ghost guns]. A further story will follow. Read our most recent story on the topic of ghost guns here.

 

Meanwhile, regarding the arrest of a fourth man in relation to the Divino Niño daycare center, a police spokesperson said, “Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, a person of interest was taken into custody in Mexico.” No further details were confirmed. A further story will follow.

As previously reported, following their arrests in The Bronx on murder, attempted murder, and other serious charges, Grei Mendez, the owner/caretaker of a Kingsbridge Heights based daycare center, and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, her accomplice, were already hit with federal drug trafficking charges in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, the special agent in charge of the New York division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and NYPD Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban, made the announcement regarding the latest arrest on Monday, Sept. 25.

 

They unsealed a criminal complaint in Manhattan federal court charging Parra Paredes, a/k/a “El Gallo,” with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death in connection with the poisoning of the four children and the resulting death of Nicholas at Divino Nino Daycare Center, located at 2707 Morris Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights. They said Paredes was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.

Reacting to the arrest, Williams said, “I promised last week that we would continue to work to bring those involved in the child poisonings at Divino Niño daycare to justice. Since then, this Office and our law enforcement partners have worked around the clock to identify and apprehend additional individuals who are responsible. Today’s arrest is one more step toward obtaining justice for the child-victims of this heinous offense and their families.”

 

As alleged in the complaint, from at least in or about July 2023 through at least in or about September 2023, Paredes, who was arrested on Saturday, Sept. 23, and is currently being held in a federal facility, and others, including Mendez and Acevedo Brito, conspired to distribute fentanyl, including at Divino Niño Daycare Center.

Prosecutors said there, despite the daily presence of children, including infants, Paredes and his co-conspirators maintained large quantities of narcotics, including a kilogram of fentanyl stored on top of children’s playmats, and large quantities of suspected narcotics in hidden compartments known as “traps” located in the floor of the room in which the children played and slept, as previously reported.

 

Prosecutors said that in addition, law enforcement found in the traps materials to package narcotics, such as glassine envelopes used for retail distribution of drugs, which had been stamped in red with the words “Red Dawn.” They added that as a result of the collective actions of Paredes, Mendez, Acevedo Brito, and others, four children, all under three years of age, appear to have experienced the effects of poisoning from exposure to fentanyl on Sept. 15. As reported, all four children were hospitalized with serious injuries and one-year-old Nicholas, died.

 

For his part, Tarentino III said, “As alleged, Paredes had an instrumental role in this conspiracy and is charged with narcotics distribution and death in connection with the poisoning of four children. The alleged drugs and materials seized in the trap are indicative of a prolific drug packaging operation.”

 

He went on to say, “Traffickers often hide contraband in inconspicuous or unsuspecting locations with no regard for the safety of others.  In this case, the Daycare’s floorboards were used as concealment, putting children’s lives at risk who innocently sat on the floor to play.  I reiterate that DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue justice for all members of this trafficking ring.”

 

Following the arrest of Paredes, prosecutors said law enforcement officers searched the apartment in which he had been staying, and during that search, found shopping bags containing tools and instruments that are used to prepare and distribute narcotics, including strainers, tape, a grinder, plastic bags, and digital scales. They said what appears to be two clear Ziplock bags filled with a greyish powder and a rectangular, brick-shaped package, both of which appear to contain narcotics, were also found.

 

They said the same type of glassine envelopes that bore the same red stamp name “Red Dawn” as had been found in the daycare center were also found where Paredes was staying. They said law enforcement officers also found the “Red Dawn” stamp itself in the apartment.

 

Paredes is charged in “Count One” with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided for informational purposes only. Any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

 

Caban also gave his reaction to the arrest, saying, “The truly disgraceful allegations in this case continue to shock the senses. This latest charge proves that our determination to eradicate the threat of illicit fentanyl and save lives cannot – and will not – stop.  The NYPD and our law enforcement partners remain committed to investigating and holding fully accountable anyone who puts the lives of our children in danger.  New Yorkers’ families, and our communities, depend on it.”

 

Williams praised what he said was the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, the NYPD, the SDNY digital forensic unit, the complex analytical and social media enhancement team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York strike force.

 

Nicholas’s parents recently posted the following message regarding the tragic death of their son to a GoFundMe page. [A fake GoFundMe page has since been removed from the site, as reported.] “Hello, I’m Otoniel and Zoila. We are the parents of Nicholas. Our son was a happy, cheerful, intelligent, kind, curious, affectionate child. All the words to describe the most beautiful and tender thing would not be enough to describe our son. Our family lost one of their most valuable treasures last Friday, September 15th when he was under the care of a daycare in The Bronx.”

 

They continued, “This was not supposed to happen. It was expected that in this kind of place our son would be safe while his parents fought to give Nicholas and his brothers a better future, but it didn’t happen like that. Somehow, I don’t dare say who or what it is responsible, but my son, like three others who are still in the hospital, had contact or exposure to fentanyl, a lethal drug capable of killing just by being close to it.”

 

They concluded, “Unfortunately, my son died as a result of that irresponsible exposure. We ask for your help for our financial support during this difficult time. Our family will be eternally grateful to you. God bless you.” 

 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Brandon C. Thompson are in charge of the prosecution.

 

A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

Read our other stories on this tragedy here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Read our previous stories on Narcan kit training here and here.

 

NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) provides training and regularly updated information on how to obtain and administer naloxone (Narcan). Click here for more information.

 

A link to a legitimate GoFundMe page, set up by Nicholas’ parents to help with their financial expenses in the wake of the tragedy, can be found in our previous story here.

 

*David Greene contributed to this story.