Five additional arrests made in connection with the overdose death of Robert De Niro’s grandson.

Five individuals were taken into custody on Thursday in a significant development related to the death of Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez, grandson of acclaimed actor Robert De Niro, who passed away from a fentanyl overdose earlier this year. The accused, comprising Grant McIver, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas, now face charges in Manhattan Federal Court for their alleged involvement in a drug distribution network implicated in the fatalities of three 19-year-olds over the course of two months.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has confirmed that the deceased include Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez and Akira Stein, the daughter of Chris Stein, co-founder of the iconic band Blondie. De Niro-Rodriguez was discovered unresponsive in his Manhattan apartment on July 2, 2023, with subsequent autopsy results identifying the cause of death as an overdose due to an assortment of substances including fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine.

Drena De Niro, the victim’s mother, expressed her outrage on social media following her son’s tragic death, indicating that illicit substances believed to be harmless were knowingly sold to him despite containing lethal components. This incident marked the beginning of law enforcement’s crackdown on the network responsible for these deaths, resulting in the arrest of Sophia Marks, a 20-year-old woman charged with multiple counts of narcotics distribution shortly after the initial tragedy.

The five suspects in custody are accused of operating three interconnected drug distribution networks throughout New York City and Long Island. The DEA’s investigation revealed that these individuals were responsible for disseminating thousands of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and other dangerous substances. Notably, John and Roy Nicolas are alleged to have supplied the drugs that led to Akira Stein’s death, while McIver, Epperson, and Barreto reportedly provided those that caused Leandro De Niro’s demise.

Social media emerged as a significant tool employed by the dealers to reach and target younger demographics, particularly teenagers and young adults. Leandro De Niro had recently relocated to New York from Aspen, Colorado, and had begun an internship on Broadway just two days before his untimely passing. The death of Akira Stein, which occurred on May 30, 2023, was only made public after two months when her father shared the news on Facebook, stating that his daughter had struggled with addiction in the years preceding her death.

Federal prosecutors have confirmed that the charges pertain to the deaths occurring on May 30, June 13, and July 2, which have highlighted an alarming trend in overdose fatalities. In 2023 alone, the city reported 3,056 overdose deaths, although that figure saw a decline to 2,192 in 2024. This ongoing crisis has reignited conversations around drug policy and the ongoing challenges posed by the opioid epidemic.

This case underscores the complexities and dangers of the current drug landscape, particularly the rise of fentanyl-laced substances that have escalated overdose risks dramatically among young people. As authorities continue to investigate and implement targeted strategies to combat this growing threat, the tragic losses serve as a grim reminder of the pressing need for awareness and reform.

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