Five Arrested in connection with Robert de Niro’s Grandson’s Fentanyl Overdose; Drug Supply Chain Revealed
New york, NY – Five individuals have been indicted in connection with teh death of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the 19-year-old grandson of actor Robert De Niro, who died last July from an accidental overdose. Court documents obtained by the Daily Mail detail a drug supply chain allegedly responsible for providing the fentanyl-laced pills that led to Rodriguez’s death, as well as the overdose of at least one other victim.the arrests mark a important development in the investigation into the proliferation of illicit fentanyl in New York City.
The indictment alleges that Rodriguez, identified as “Victim #3,” obtained fentanyl and Xanax mixture pills from a woman known as “CC-1,” who in turn sourced them from alleged dealers michael Epperson and Rohan Barrett. According to court documents, CC-1 sold the pills to Rodriguez in the week leading up to his death and “knew the pills were strong and warned the young man to be careful.” A June 30th text message exchange revealed CC-1 even told Rodriguez, “I don’t want to kill you,” and questioned, “Do you really need them?” Rodriguez responded, “What? Please elaborate,” to which CC-1 replied, “I just don’t like selling them as they’re not prescription.” despite the warnings, Rodriguez purchased three fentanyl pills and two Xanax pills for $105 the following day; he was found dead the next morning.
The investigation also uncovered a separate case involving “Victim #1,” identified as 19-year-old Akira Stein, who fatally overdosed after allegedly receiving drugs from John and Roy Nicolas. Stein was found unconscious in the bathroom of his Manhattan apartment, where he lived alone in a sixth-floor luxury unit he had rented for less than a year. The building’s concierge described Rodriguez as a “nice young man who always said hello.”
The New York City Medical Examiner ruled Rodriguez’s death an accident, citing “toxic effects from fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine” as the cause of death. The five individuals now face charges related to drug trafficking and conspiracy, highlighting the ongoing crisis of fentanyl-related deaths and the efforts to hold accountable those involved in its distribution.
