When news broke in 2023 that Robert De Niro’s grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, had died from a suspected overdose, the world mourned alongside the legendary actor and his family.
Now, two years later, authorities have made a major breakthrough in the case, arresting five individuals believed to be tied to the drugs that took the young man’s life.
The Arrests That Shook New York
Police have confirmed that Grant McIver, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas were taken into custody in New York City.
According to an indictment obtained by Daily Mail, the group is accused of running a large-scale criminal drug operation, supplying counterfeit prescription pills across the city — many of which allegedly reached young people, including Leandro.
Investigators say the ring distributed thousands of fake pills disguised as real prescription drugs, fueling a dangerous market that ultimately led to the tragic loss of lives like Leandro’s.
The Young Life Cut Short
Leandro, just 18 years old, was found dead inside a $950,000 one-bedroom apartment at the Cipriani Club Residences on Wall Street — one of New York’s most exclusive addresses.
Near his body, police discovered a white powdery substance on a plate, which they believe played a role in his death.
The teenager, who was the son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena, had been living alone in the apartment for less than a year.
Staff at the luxury building described him as polite and kind. One concierge remembered, “He’d always say hi when he came and went.
He was friendly, just kept to himself. It’s so tragic. You see his photo, and he was just a kid.”
Family Grief That Touched the World
At the time of his passing, the De Niro family released a heartbreaking statement.
The Oscar-winning actor said, “I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo.
We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone.”
Leandro’s mother, Drena De Niro, also expressed her devastation, sharing emotional tributes online that resonated with fans and friends worldwide.
The family’s grief shone a harsh light on the growing crisis of fentanyl-laced counterfeit drugs claiming young lives across the country.
The “Percocet Princess” Connection
Separate from the five recent arrests, another figure — 20-year-old Sophia Haley Marks, known online as the “Percocet Princess” — had previously been charged in connection with selling the drugs that caused Leandro’s overdose.
Marks allegedly sold counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid far more potent than morphine, to the teenager before his death.
Her case is still making its way through the courts.
A City Still Searching for Accountability
Authorities say the arrests are part of a broader crackdown on illegal pill networks in New York City, where fake prescription drugs continue to circulate on social media and in nightlife circles.
Prosecutors hope this new wave of arrests will bring justice to Leandro’s family and highlight the dangers of counterfeit drugs that look deceptively legitimate.
Remembering Leandro
Those who knew Leandro remember him as a gentle, creative young man with a bright future ahead.
His death, like so many others tied to the ongoing opioid epidemic, has left a painful scar on his family — and on a city still struggling to contain a crisis that touches every neighborhood.
As the investigation unfolds, the De Niro family continues to grieve privately, hoping that accountability will bring some measure of closure.