Federal prosecutors announced charges on Oct. 15 against two men in connection with the death of a Fashion Institute of Technology student, saying she died after being drugged and raped in her dorm room, according to The Associated Press.
Moises Freire, 19, of the Bronx, faces charges of participating in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy and distributing a deadly drug with intent to commit rape, prosecutors said. Brian Peralta Cabrera, 18, of Queens, was charged in connection with the drug conspiracy, according to prosecutors. Freire was not a student at FIT, the AP reported.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
Prosecutors said Freire brought fentanyl to the students’ dorm room on March 18 and falsely told the women it was pure cocaine. The FIT student who was raped lost consciousness after taking the drug and fell into a coma, according to prosecutors. A friend of the victim also took the drug and nearly died, prosecutors said. The student died on March 21.
According to the allegations outlined by prosecutors, Freire waited roughly 45 minutes after the women lost consciousness before seeking help. During that time, prosecutors said, he sent photos of the unconscious women to other people.
Emails seeking comment were left for lawyers representing Freire and Peralta Cabrera, according to the AP.
Officials’ Reaction To The Case
Christopher Roberts, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Task Force Division, addressed the case, calling the allegations “beyond disturbing” and describing them as involving “a cruel deception and unimaginable assault,” according to the AP.
“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.”
Potential Penalties
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and could receive a sentence of up to life, according to prosecutors.
What Comes Next
No court date has been reported in connection with the charges against Freire and Peralta Cabrera. FIT, part of the State University of New York, had not commented as of the AP’s report.
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