MIAMI — A South Florida man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that led to the death of a 10-month-old infant, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced.
Darnell Mendez, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg to 30 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The case stems from a lengthy investigation by the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD), the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), following the infant’s death in Boynton Beach, reportedly due to fentanyl ingestion.
Mr Mendez and his girlfriend, Samantha Yi, both pled guilty to federal charges related to fentanyl distribution. Ms Yi is scheduled for sentencing on January 9, 2025, where she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
According to investigators, the incident began on March 31, 2022, when PBSO responded to a distress call for a 10-month-old infant. The baby, initially transported to Bethesda Hospital East, was later transferred to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where she died on April 5, 2022.
An autopsy conducted by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the infant’s death resulted from fentanyl intoxication and ruled the death a homicide.
During a homicide investigation led by the BBPD, fentanyl was discovered in the infant’s home. Investigators said that both parents were addicts and had allegedly used fentanyl in the apartment’s kitchen, where the teething infant reportedly ingested the drug on March 31 while in her mother’s care.
The BBPD arrested the mother on a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child by culpable negligence.
The DEA joined the investigation to trace the source of the fentanyl. Evidence from the mother’s cellphone reportedly identified Ms Yi as the dealer, with months of text exchanges indicating drug transactions.
Further analysis implicated Mr Mendez in the distribution operation. Law enforcement determined that on March 30, 2022, the mother allegedly purchased fentanyl from Yi, which the infant later ingested.
As part of the investigation, DEA and ATF conducted an undercover operation where two officers reportedly purchased fentanyl from Ms Yi and Mr Mendez. The operation led to their arrest on March 6 at their residence in Lake Worth, where authorities seized 14 firearms.
Both defendants, convicted felons, admitted to unlawful firearm possession in their plea agreements.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida commended the agencies involved, including the DEA, ATF, BBPD, and PBSO. Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA Miami Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the ATF Miami Field Division, BBPD Chief Joe DeGiulio, and PBSO Sheriff Ric Bradshaw jointly announced the sentencing.
The case received assistance from the Office of State Attorney Dave Aronberg for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McMichael and Shannon O’Shea Darsch prosecuting.
