A South Florida couple has faced the severe consequences of their actions as they pleaded guilty to charges of distributing fentanyl, an event which tragically resulted in the death of an infant, and illegal possession of firearms due to their status as convicted felons. According to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Samantha Yi, 32, and her boyfriend Darnell Mendez, 31, both from Lake Worth, admitted in federal court to their involvement in the drug dealing that led to a 10-month-old baby's fentanyl intoxication and subsequent death.
The saga unfolded when the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) and local authorities responded to a distressing 911 call concerning an infant on March 31, 2022, despite the hard work of medical professionals, the child transferred to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital could not be saved, and an autopsy later confirmed fentanyl as the cause of death, classifying it a homicide, this kickstarted a determined investigation by the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who eventually traced the drug supply back to the couple.
The detailed inquiry uncovered electronic communications between Yi and the baby's mother referencing drug transactions, pinpointing Yi as the seller; her boyfriend Mendez was also implicated in distribution activities, their criminal enterprise unraveled following an undercover operation where they sold fentanyl to officers, culminating in a raid on March 6 at their residence where an alarming trove of 14 firearms was seized given their felon status, their admission to possessing these weapons illegally added to the gravity of the case.
The punishment awaiting the two is severe, reflecting the heinous impact of their actions; the couple now faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years up to life in prison, with Mendez's sentencing scheduled for October 29, while Yi awaits her sentencing date, these guilty pleas signify a somber closure for a case that exposed the devastating intersection of drug addiction, illegal arms, and the loss of innocent life, said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, alongside top officials from DEA, ATF, BBPD, and PBSO, as documented on the court's official website and PACER system under case number 24-cr-80041.
