NY Man Charged in Fentanyl-Fueled Rape, Death of FIT Student
Moises Freire faces federal charges including distributing a deadly drug with intent to commit rape.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with federal crimes in connection with the death of a student and a rape that occurred after he allegedly supplied fentanyl to the victim and her friend.
Moises Freire, of the Bronx, was charged with participating in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy and distributing a deadly drug with intent to commit rape. Brian Peralta Cabrera, 18, of Queens, was also charged in the drug conspiracy. Both men are in federal custody and have not yet been arraigned on the new indictment.
Prosecutors allege that on March 18, Freire brought fentanyl to a dorm room at the Fashion Institute of Technology and told the women it was cocaine. The students consumed the drug and immediately lost consciousness. Freire is accused of raping one of the women while she was unconscious. The victim died on March 21.
A third defendant, Harry Rosales Pino, pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury. He is scheduled for sentencing in December.
If convicted, Freire and Peralta Cabrera face a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, with a potential life sentence.
During a court hearing in April, Freire's lawyer stated that his client did not intend to ply the students with drugs, characterizing the events as "dumb teenager things." The judge responded that giving someone fentanyl is not a trivial act.
Freire reportedly admitted in a written statement to campus security that he had sexual contact with the woman and realized she was unconscious afterward. Prosecutors stated that Freire waited about 45 minutes before seeking help from campus security, during which time he sent photos of the unconscious women to others. He initially claimed the women had consumed too much alcohol.
The DEA called the allegations "beyond disturbing and include a cruel deception and unimaginable assault," emphasizing that college campuses should be safe spaces and students should not be exploited by predators.