A tragic incident at a New York City college has left one student dead and another hospitalized after they were allegedly drugged with fentanyl and assaulted. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York detailed the events that took place in March at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s dormitory.
According to federal prosecutors, the deceased student, whose identity has not been disclosed, and another unnamed student were drugged in their residence hall. While the second student survived, the other succumbed to complications related to acute fentanyl intoxication days later.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the case. Moises Freire, 19, faces charges including distribution of a controlled substance with intent to commit rape and conspiracy, while 18-year-old Brian Peralta Cabrera has been charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Both men have pleaded not guilty.
The indictment alleges that Freire provided one of the women with a substance he falsely claimed was pure cocaine, assuring her it did not contain any fentanyl. Upon arriving at the dorm, both women quickly lost consciousness. Freire is accused of assaulting one woman while she was incapacitated and taking explicit photos of her, which he later shared with friends.
After waiting approximately 45 minutes to contact campus security, Freire claimed the women were simply drunk. Emergency services were able to assist the unconscious students, but only one regained consciousness. The other died shortly thereafter.
This incident has sparked outrage and concern over the safety of students on college campuses, with calls for increased protections against such predatory behavior. Christopher Roberts, a special agent in charge of the DEA’s New York Task Force Division, emphasized that colleges should be safe environments for students to thrive.
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of sexual misconduct and substance abuse on college campuses, highlighting a broader national conversation about the vulnerabilities faced by students in such settings.
Photo credit: GHI / Education Images
