Five Men Accused of Selling Fentanyl-Laced Pills to Teens

Nearly half a dozen people have now been arrested in connection with the drugs linked to Leandro’s death, according to court filings. Five men, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas, face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death.

The case involves Leandro, the only child of Robert’s eldest daughter, Drena De Niro, as well as two other teenagers. Prosecutors allege the group promoted and sold drugs across New York City and parts of Long Island through social media.

They distributed thousands of counterfeit Xanax pills that were tainted with fentanyl and sold to young adults and teens. According to federal authorities, three 19-year-olds, including Leandro, died from fentanyl-laced pills within a three-month period during the summer of 2023.

His Death After Just Two Days in the New Apartment

The NYPD confirmed that officers discovered Leandro unresponsive after responding to a 911 call to Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. The teen, who had recently celebrated his 19th birthday, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors revealed that Leandro had just relocated to New York to begin a theater internship on Broadway, following his high school graduation in Aspen, Colorado. He had been living in his new apartment for only two days before his death.

The New York City medical examiner’s office ruled the death accidental, citing the toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine as the cause.

Drena De Niro’s Devastating Tribute

Drena confirmed her son’s passing, sharing a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram. 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.”

She continued, “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, I’m so sorry @carlosmare 😢💔. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy 🙏🏽💔💔💔💔💔🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️.”

Robert De Niro Breaks His Silence on the Tragic Loss

Robert also shared that he felt an overwhelming sense of disbelief when he first learned about his grandson’s death. “It’s just a shock. [I] never thought it would happen,” he acknowledged.

The movie star added, “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.”