Five people charged over Robert De Niro’s grandson's death
Topics: Crime
Charlotte Dorans
Featured Image Credit: Mike Marsland / Contributor / via Getty Images
Topics: Crime
Five people have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Robert De Niro's grandson, as well as two others.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, who is the only son of the Goodfellas actor's eldest daughter Drena, 56, was found deceased in his New York apartment in July 2023.
The 19-year-old's cause of death was later ruled an accidental drug overdose by the New York City Chief Medical Examiner, with an autopsy finding a 'toxic combination' of substances in his body, including fentanyl, ketamine, and cocaine.
Two years after De Niro Rodriguez's death, authorities have arrested and charged five individuals in connection with his passing, accusing them of running a fentanyl distribution network that allegedly sold counterfeit opioid pills to teenagers and young adults throughout New York.
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According to the BBC, the suspects have been named as Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas, who have each been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute.
Authorities have linked the suspects in connection with the deaths of De Niro Rodriguez, Akira Stein - who is the daughter of Blondie co-founder and guitarist, Chris Stein - and an unnamed third victim.
Stein was found dead on 30 May, while the third victim died on 13 June. Stein allegedly purchased fentanyl-laced pills from John and Roy Nicolas, and the third victim supposedly acquired pills through an intermediary from McIver.
In a statement on Thursday (29 October), Homeland Security Investigations New York special agent in charge Ricky Patel said: "Through their alleged actions, these defendants left behind a trail of irreversible loss that cut short the lives of three teenagers who held boundless potential and who had already made profound, immeasurable impacts on those who knew them."
Prosecutors further claim that the five suspects used social media, as well as encrypted messaging apps, to sell thousands of pills between January and July 2023.
In 2023, a separate woman was previously arrested in connection with De Niro Rodriguez's death, after being accused of selling him counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and Xanax.
Authorities claim that De Niro Rodriguez had allegedly gotten pills from a dealer who'd received them from McIver, Epperson, and Barreto.
The teenager's mother, Drena, announced his passing in a statement, where she said: "It is with immeasurable shock and sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo. We thank you for the outpouring of love and support, and ask that we are given privacy at this time to process this inconsolable grief."
She later issued a tribute to her son on Instagram, calling him her 'beautiful, sweet angel'.
"I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy, my heart, and all that was ever pure and real in my life. I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you," she continued. "I don’t know how to live without you, but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama.
"You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you."
The Heat star, 82, issued his own statement at the time, writing that he was 'deeply distressed' by his 'beloved' grandson's death, adding: "We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."
LADbible Group has contacted De Niro's representatives for comment.