5 individuals have been arrested in reference to the loss of life of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the 19-year-old grandson of actor Robert De Niro, who died of a suspected drug overdose in New York Metropolis two years in the past.
The 5 males – Grant McIver, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, John Nicolas and Roy Nicolas – have been charged with allegedly operating a drug-supply ring accused of distributing counterfeit prescription capsules to younger individuals throughout New York, in response to an indictment obtained by the Each day Mail.
Authorities allege the group supplied the capsules that killed three youngsters in 2023, and in response to New York Put up sources say they had been recognized in courtroom papers as ‘sufferer 3’ – particulars that match Leandro’s age, loss of life date and placement.
Leandro, the one son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena De Niro, 58, and artist Carlos Rodriguez was discovered lifeless on July 2, 2023 inside a one-bedroom residence on the Cipriani Membership Residences on Wall Avenue.
A white powdery substance was found on a plate close to his physique.
Based on the indictment, a lady recognized as CC-1 provided Leandro with a mix of fentanyl and Xanax within the days earlier than his loss of life.
She allegedly sourced the capsules from Epperson and Barreto and offered them to {the teenager} regardless of acknowledging their hazard.
‘She knew the capsules she was offering to sufferer 3 had been sturdy and warned (him) to watch out when taking the capsules,’ the doc reads.
Throughout a textual content change on 30 June 2023, the supplier reportedly advised Leandro: ‘I don’t wish to kill you.’
When he replied, ‘Huh? Elaborate,’ she wrote: ‘Do u rly want them… Ion wanna kill you.’
Leandro responded: ‘Sorry I b mad paranoid… I misinterpreted this,’ to which she answered: ‘I j(ust) don’t like serving them cuz they not script (prescription).’
Regardless of the warning, Leandro bought three fentanyl capsules and two Xanax for $105, arranging for them to be delivered by automobile service to a buddy’s residence in downtown Manhattan.
The capsules had been dropped off round 9.15pm, and hours later, at 1.50 am on 2 July, CC-1 texted him asking, ‘u good?’ He by no means replied.
He was discovered lifeless later that morning.
Individually, Sophia Haley Marks – identified on-line because the ‘Percocet Princess’ – was beforehand charged with supplying the medication that led to Leandro’s loss of life.
{The teenager} had been dwelling alone within the upscale residence for lower than a 12 months.
His constructing’s concierge advised the Each day Mail that Leandro was ‘a pleasant younger man, who’d all the time say hiya when he got here and went.’
‘I’d see him once in a while, and he’d all the time say hello,’ the concierge stated. ‘He simply was pleasant, stored to himself.’
‘I didn’t know who he was till I learn the story,’ he added.
‘It’s a tragedy. I used to be simply speaking to my coworker that stated my daughter simply turned 20. You see his image – he was a child.’
Robert De Niro stated on the time: ‘I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo. We’re tremendously appreciative of the condolences from everybody.’
In 2024, he added to Individuals Journal: ‘It’s only a shock. [I] by no means thought it might occur.
‘And I simply then began excited about all of the issues I may have, ought to have achieved perhaps with him. ‘I don’t know if that may’ve made a distinction. And in order that’s all the time taking part in via my thoughts.’
‘It shouldn’t have occurred.’
The New York Metropolis medical expert dominated Leandro’s loss of life an accident, citing poisonous results of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine.
Saying his loss of life on Instagram on the time, Drena (who has appeared in a number of of her father’s motion pictures), shared a heartfelt dedication to her late son.
She wrote: ‘My lovely candy angel. I’ve cherished you past phrases or description from the second I felt you in my stomach. You could have been my pleasure my coronary heart and all that was ever pure and actual in my life.
‘I want I used to be with you proper now. I want I used to be with you. I don’t know easy methods to stay with out you however I’ll attempt to go on and unfold the love and light-weight that you simply so made me really feel in attending to be your mama.
‘You had been so deeply cherished and appreciated and I want that love alone may have saved you. I’m so sorry my child. Relaxation in Peace and Everlasting Paradise my darling boy.’
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