Several American media reports stated that a U.S. federal prosecutor announced on the 16th that a female college student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York was exposed to fentanyl in her dormitory and suffered sexual assault, resulting in her death.
A press release issued by the U.S. District Attorney’s Office in New York South stated that in March of this year, this female student, whose name was not made public, and another similarly anonymous student were drugged in a dormitory building at a university in Manhattan. The prosecutor said that the other student survived.
Court documents indicate that two female victims attended the Parsons School of Design in New York City.
The prosecutor said that two men were arrested and charged in connection with this crime.
The indictment shows that 19-year-old Moises Freire, living in the Bronx, is charged with several crimes: distribution of controlled substances for the purpose of rape, distribution of drugs leading to death, and conspiracy to commit crimes. 18-year-old Brian Peralta Cabrera, living in Queens, is charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs, resulting in death and serious physical injury.
Both individuals have presented not-guilty arguments.
The indictment alleges that Freire was not a student at the Fashion Technology Institute. On March 18th, he assured two women that the cocaine he provided was Mexican cocaine, claiming that it contained no fentanyl. He also referred to fentanyl as “poison”.
The prosecutor stated that Freire knew that the drugs came from Cabrera and contained fentanyl.
Judicial documents show that before meeting the two girls, Frayre told 18-year-old Brian Pelarita Cabrera that he needed drugs with effects that could last «all night». If the drug's potency was strong enough to make users addicted, it would be a «win-win situation».
The indictment states that after the two women arrived at the dormitory building, Freyer encouraged them to take the drug.
Two women lost consciousness immediately after taking the medication. The prosecutor stated that Frere then raped one of the women while she was unconscious due to an overdose of fentanyl, and the other woman lay several feet away, also unconscious.
The indictment states that after sexually assaulting the unconscious woman, Frerre took naked photos of her and sent them to his friends.
The prosecutor stated that Freyer delayed in contacting campus security for about 45 minutes, claiming that the two women were unconscious due to excessive drinking.
According to the indictment, campus security personnel found two women at the scene and provided first aid before transporting them to a nearby hospital.
Only one of the two victims regained consciousness. The woman who suffered sexual assault died a few days later due to complications caused by acute fentanyl poisoning.
"The Drug Enforcement Administration New York Task Force Supervisor Christopher Roberts said: 'Education should be a place where young people learn, grow, and pursue their dreams, not a place for criminals to exploit the vulnerable.'"
Roberts said, “Whether walking on the campus, sitting in the classroom, or staying in one’s own dormitory, every student should feel safe.”
Roberts said: "The crimes alleged in this case are extremely disturbing, involving despicable deception and unimaginable atrocities."
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described Frerre and Cabrera's actions as "completely irresponsible" and "extremely cruel and twisted."
Freyere did not seek help immediately, according to reports he first raped the victim, who later died and lost all resistance, before lying to emergency responders. She added.
At a time when the announcement of this suspected criminal case and the news of arrest was released, the entire United States is commencing reflection on campus sexual assault.
Last month, a woman filed a lawsuit against Cornell University, the Tri Delta sorority she was a member of, the Chi Phi fraternity, and seven former members of that sorority. The plaintiff claimed to have been subjected to gang rape. This week, a 21-year-old woman reported the incident to the police, stating that she was sexually assaulted at a party of a male fraternity near another top university, the University of Chicago.
