5 new arrests in deaths of De Niro's grandson and Chris Stein's daughter

5 New Arrests in Deaths of De Niro's Grandson and Chris Stein's Daughter

Authorities in New York announced the arrest of five individuals connected to fatal overdoses that claimed the lives of Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, grandson of actor Robert De Niro, and Akira Stein, daughter of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein.

Background

In 2023, Sofia Marks, nicknamed the “Percocet Princess,” was charged with selling the counterfeit pills responsible for Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez’s death. The case has since expanded as investigators uncovered a wider criminal network distributing fentanyl-laced opioids.

The Newly Arrested Suspects

Grant McIver
Bruce Epperson
Eddie Barreto
John Nicolas
Roy Nicolas

Prosecutors stated that the five worked within an organized operation distributing thousands of fake prescription pills, primarily to young adults across New York City. These counterfeit opioids were reportedly laced with fentanyl and other dangerous substances.

Indictment Details

According to the indictment, the fentanyl pills supplied by the defendants led to the deaths of three 19-year-olds, including Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez and Akira Stein.

Law enforcement sources confirmed the victims’ identities to ABC News, though the indictment itself did not name them explicitly.

Author’s Summary

The arrests reveal a larger fentanyl trafficking network responsible for multiple overdose deaths among New York youth, linking the tragedy to known figures in entertainment.

ABC7 Chicago — 2025-11-01