A 19-year-old man at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) dormitories has been additionally indicted for allegedly tricking female students into taking fentanyl poisoning by passing it off as cocaine, then sexually assaulting an incapacitated student. The victim subsequently lapsed into a coma and died, while a friend who also ingested the drug narrowly escaped death.
According to federal prosecutors, 19-year-old Moises Freire from the Bronx brought fentanyl to the FIT dorms on March 18 and claimed it was pure cocaine. Two women lost consciousness almost immediately after consuming it. Freire was not an FIT student.
Prosecutors stated that Freire engaged in sexual activity with the incapacitated female victim and later realized she was unresponsive. The victim slipped into a coma and died on March 21.
Investigations revealed that instead of immediately seeking help, Freire spent about 45 minutes taking photos of the unconscious women and sending them to others. When he eventually asked school security for assistance, he reportedly claimed the two women had simply drank too much alcohol.
Freire was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and administering a deadly drug with the intent to commit rape. Brian Peralta Cabrera, an 18-year-old from Queens, is also facing charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Both men were initially arrested in March, pleaded not guilty to the initial charges, and are currently being held in federal custody.
Prosecutors stated that if convicted, both defendants could face anywhere from 20 years to life in prison. The identities of the victims have not been publicly released.
