5 men indicted for alleged roles in overdose death of Robert De Niro's grandson

Five alleged cause dealers are facing felony charges for their engagement successful the decease of Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, the grandson of acting fable Robert De Niro.

A national expansive assemblage successful New York indicted the quintet connected Tuesday, each connected a azygous felony number of conspiracy to administer controlled substances resulting successful death, according to tribunal documents filed successful the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors allege the men were “members of a transgression web that distributed thousands of counterfeit medicine pills laced with fentanyl, among different drugs” to young adults and teenagers surviving successful New York City.

The men arrested by officials this week — identified arsenic Grant McIver, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, John Nicolas and Roy Nicolas — allegedly utilized societal media to merchantability the drugs. Prosecutors underscored that the men’s “drug dealing had deadly consequences: implicit a three-month span successful the summertime of 2023,” alleging their drugs led to the deaths of 3 19-year-olds.

Though the indictment did not disclose the victims’ identities, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division confirmed successful a quality merchandise that the deaths see De Niro-Rodriguez’s successful July 2023. At the clip of her son’s death, actor-producer Drena De Niro — the Oscar winner’s eldest girl with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott — said “someone sold [Leandro] fentanyl-laced pills that they knew were laced yet inactive sold them to him.”

A period aft the young “A Star Is Born” actor’s death, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed De Niro-Rodriguez died of an accidental cause overdose, noting helium succumbed to the toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine.

Akira Stein, girl of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein, was besides an alleged victim. Stein announced his daughter’s decease successful July 2023, months aft she died “at the extremity of May to an overdose.”

“The DEA and US Attorney folks from the NYC Southern District person been truly precise sympathetic and respectful each done this process and I can’t convey them capable for this anticipation of immoderate justness for her,” Stein wrote successful absorption to quality of the arrests Thursday. “Please beryllium careful.”

“The arrests of these defendants are portion of our continued committedness to our chap New Yorker,” Manhattan U.S. Atty. Jay Clayton said successful Thursday’s release. “We volition combat fentanyl from flowing onto our streets and bring to justness the dealers and suppliers who propulsion this poison, particularly those who people our kids.”

Shortly aft De Niro-Rodriguez’s death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed that instrumentality enforcement had arrested a woman, an alleged cause trader known arsenic the “Percocet Princess,” for her suspected transportation with his death. She was arrested connected charges of selling drugs to De Niro-Rodriguez.

In a July 2023 statement, “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Raging Bull” prima De Niro said, “I’m profoundly distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo.”

“We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone,” helium said. “We inquire that we delight beryllium fixed privateness to grieve our nonaccomplishment of Leo.”