Five Arrested in Death of De Niro's Grandson
Arrests in the Death of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez
Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the death of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, a 19-year-old who passed away due to a suspected drug overdose in New York City two years ago. The five men—Grant McIver, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas—are accused of being part of a drug-supply ring that distributed counterfeit prescription pills to young people across New York.
According to an indictment obtained by the Daily Mail, the group is alleged to have provided the pills that led to the deaths of three teenagers in 2023. Court documents identify these victims as “victim 3,” matching Leandro’s age, date of death, and location.
Leandro, the only son of De Niro’s adopted daughter Drena De Niro, 58, and artist Carlos Rodriguez, was found dead on July 2, 2023, inside a one-bedroom apartment at the Cipriani Club Residences on Wall Street. A white powdery substance was discovered on a plate near his body.
The indictment states that a woman identified as CC-1 supplied Leandro with a combination of fentanyl and Xanax in the days leading up to his death. She allegedly sourced the pills from Epperson and Barreto and sold them to the teenager despite knowing their dangers.
“She knew the pills she was providing to victim 3 were strong and warned (him) to be careful when taking the pills,” the document reads. During a text exchange on June 30, 2023, the dealer reportedly told Leandro: “I don’t want to kill you.” In response, Leandro said, “Huh? Elaborate,” to which she replied, “Do u rly need them… Ion wanna kill you.”
Leandro responded, “Sorry I b mad paranoid… I misinterpreted this,” and she answered, “I j(ust) don’t like serving them cuz they not script (prescription).” Despite the warning, Leandro purchased three fentanyl pills and two Xanax for $105, arranging for them to be delivered by car service to a friend’s apartment in downtown Manhattan.
The pills were dropped off around 9:15 pm, and hours later, at 1:50 am on July 2, CC-1 texted him asking, “u good?” He never replied.
He was found dead later that morning.
Separately, Sophia Haley Marks, known online as the “Percocet Princess,” was previously charged with supplying the drugs that led to Leandro’s death. The teenager had been living alone in the upscale apartment for less than a year.
His building’s concierge shared with the Daily Mail that Leandro was “a friendly young man, who’d always say hello when he came and went.” “I’d see him every now and then, and he’d always say hi,” the concierge said. “He just was friendly, kept to himself.”
“I didn’t know who he was until I read the story,” he added. “It’s a tragedy. I was just talking to my coworker that said my daughter just turned 20. You see his picture – he was a baby.”
Robert De Niro expressed his deep distress over the passing of his grandson Leo. “I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo. We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone.”
In 2024, he added to People Magazine: “It’s just a shock. [I] never thought it would happen. And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him. ‘I don’t know if that would’ve made a difference. And so that’s always playing through my mind.’”
“It shouldn’t have happened.”
The New York City medical examiner ruled Leandro’s death an accident, citing toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine.
Announcing his death on Instagram at the time, Drena shared a heartfelt dedication to her late son. She wrote: “My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life.”
“I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you. I don’t know how to live without you but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama. You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you. I’m so sorry my baby. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.”
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