FIT Student Drugged with Fentanyl and Raped in Manhattan Dorm, Two Men Charged
A Fashion Institute of Technology student died after being drugged with fentanyl and raped in her dorm room in March. Two men have been indicted on federal charges.
Two Men Indicted Over Fatal Fentanyl Drugging and Rape at NYC College Dorm
A student at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan died after being drugged with fentanyl and raped inside a campus residence hall, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday, according to nbcnews.com.
The incident took place on 18 March, when two female students were given a substance at the college dormitory. Both women lost consciousness almost immediately. One survived; the other died "from complications from acute fentanyl intoxication" several days later.
Two men have since been arrested and indicted in connection with the alleged crimes.
The charges
Moises Freire, 19, of the Bronx, faces charges of distribution of a controlled substance with intent to commit rape, distribution of narcotics resulting in death, and conspiracy. Brian Peralta Cabrera, 18, of Queens, is charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Lawyers for the two defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
What prosecutors say happened
According to the indictment, Freire told one of the women the substance was "pure cocaine" from Mexico and "falsely" assured her it contained no fentanyl. Prosecutors say Freire was aware the drug — which he had obtained from Cabrera — was fentanyl, and had previously described it as "fake" and "poison."
Freire encouraged both women to consume the drug after they arrived at the residence hall. When both fell unconscious, Freire allegedly raped one of the women while she was overdosing on fentanyl, while the other woman lay unconscious nearby.
After the assault, he took photographs of the victim and sent them to acquaintances, the indictment states. Freire then waited approximately 45 minutes before contacting campus security, telling them the women were unconscious because they had consumed too much alcohol.
Campus security located the women and administered emergency medical assistance before they were transported to a nearby hospital. Only one regained consciousness.
DEA response
Christopher Roberts, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration New York Task Force Division, addressed the case directly. "College should be a place where young people can learn, grow, and pursue their dreams, not a place where predators exploit their vulnerability," Roberts said. "Every student deserves to feel safe, whether walking across campus, sitting in a classroom, or inside their own dorm room."
FIT had not responded to NBC News' requests for comment at the time of publication.
Broader context
The case emerges amid heightened national scrutiny over sexual misconduct on college campuses across the United States. Last month, a woman filed a lawsuit against Cornell University, her former sorority Tri Delta, the fraternity Chi Phi, and seven former Chi Phi members, alleging she was gang raped. Separately, a 21-year-old woman reported to police this week that she was sexually assaulted at a fraternity party near the University of Chicago.
Source: Google News MT