Federal prosecutors allege a man raped a student at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) after giving her fentanyl, which rendered her unconscious and ultimately caused her death. A friend of the student also overdosed and nearly died after taking the substance.
The US justice department stated on Thursday that charges have been brought against three men. Moises Freire, 19, faces counts including participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distributing a deadly drug with intent to commit rape. Brian Peralta Cabrera, 18, was also charged in connection with the drug conspiracy.
Prosecutors contend that Freire, who was not an FIT student, brought fentanyl to a dorm room on 18 March, falsely claiming it was pure cocaine. Both women quickly became unconscious after taking the drug.
The woman Freire is accused of raping went into a coma and died on 21 March, prosecutors said. An assistant US attorney alleged that Freire admitted in writing to having sex with the woman while she was unconscious.
Harry Rosales Pino, a third defendant, pleaded guilty in September to plotting to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Updated charges against Peralta and Freire, including the rape allegation against Freire, were filed on Thursday. Neither Freire nor Peralta had been arraigned on these superseding charges as of Friday.