Five people have been arrested over the death of Robert De Niro’s grandson in 2023, after authorities alleged they were part of a drug ring selling fentanyl-laced pills in New York.
On Thursday, federal prosecutors in Manhattan, New York charged Grant McIver, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, John Nicolas and Roy Nicolas for selling counterfeit opioid pills that led to multiple fatal overdoses.
According to the indictment, the pills caused the deaths of three teenagers, including the Hollywood star’s grandson Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, and Akira Stein, the daughter of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein.
While the indictment did not name the victims, law enforcement sources confirmed the victims’ identities to ABC News US.
According to the indictment, the group sold thousands of fake pills to teens and young adults across New York City.
The five men are accused of supplying the drugs that led to De Niro-Rodriguez’s overdose, who was found dead at a friend’s home in downtown Manhattan after taking a fentanyl-laced pill.
Prosecutors say the group sold drugs through social media platforms including Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and Telegram. They allegedly made deals from hotel rooms, apartments and in person.
The indictment also claims Akira Stein overdosed months before her death and sent a message to John Nicolas in December 2022 saying, “I overdosed.”
Nicolas allegedly replied, “Wtf babe?”
“You’re totally protected can’t find the batch everything’s okay just letting you know,” she allegedly wrote back. “I crushed up two barely split one. Like I barely did anything and I know my tolerance… just warn customers in batch might be extra strong.”
She died from another overdose on May 30, 2023, at age 19.
Prosecutors allege Epperson and Barreto began selling marijuana, cocaine, LSD and prescription pills in 2019.
McIver allegedly joined in 2023 and began selling fentanyl and Zylazine, an animal tranquiliser not approved for humans.
The Nicolas brothers are accused of selling fentanyl-laced pills starting in 2022 and directing customers to one another.
Another alleged dealer, 20-year-old Sophia Haley Marks, known as the “Percocet Princess”, was previously charged in connection with the case. She allegedly bought drugs from the group and sold them to others, including De Niro-Rodriguez.
Three New York City teenagers died in 2023 after taking pills linked to the crew, including Stein and De Niro-Rodriguez.
Image: Instagram
