Five Charged in Fentanyl Deaths of Robert De Niro’s Grandson and Two Other Teens

New York authorities have charged five individuals in connection with the tragic 2023 overdose deaths of Robert De Niro’s grandson, Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, Akira Stein, daughter of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein, and a third unnamed 19-year-old victim.

The accused — Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas — allegedly operated a fentanyl distribution network that sold counterfeit opioid pills to teenagers and young adults via social media and encrypted messaging apps.

Federal prosecutors say the network’s deadly operations spanned from January to July 2023, during which the suspects allegedly sold thousands of fake prescription pills disguised as oxycodone but laced with lethal doses of fentanyl.

“Through their alleged actions, these defendants left behind a trail of irreversible loss that cut short the lives of three teenagers who held boundless potential,” said Homeland Security Investigations New York special agent Ricky Patel.

Authorities allege that:

• Akira Stein was found dead on May 30 after taking fentanyl-laced pills she allegedly purchased from John and Roy Nicolas.

• A third unnamed victim died on June 13, after buying counterfeit pills through an intermediary linked to Grant McIver.

• Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, 19, died on July 2, after receiving fake oxycodone pills allegedly supplied through Epperson, Barreto, and McIver.

Leandro, the son of Drena De Niro and artist Carlos Rodriguez, had been pursuing a career in acting, appearing alongside his mother in the 2018 film A Star Is Born. His death shook Hollywood and reignited national attention on the fentanyl epidemic devastating American youth.

Following the tragedy, a separate woman was arrested in 2023 for allegedly selling Leandro the fatal pills and Xanax tablets, highlighting the widespread nature of counterfeit drug sales in online spaces.

Robert De Niro, in a statement after his grandson’s death, said he was “deeply distressed” by the loss of his “beloved grandson,” calling Leandro’s passing “a senseless tragedy that no family should have to endure.”

Chris Stein also responded to the arrests, writing on Instagram:

“Thank you to the investigators for this hope of some justice for her,” referring to his late daughter Akira.

If convicted, the five defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years to life in federal prison.

This case underscores the growing national crisis of counterfeit drugs—and the deadly reach of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths across the United States each year.

Would you like me to make this blog post more emotional and reflective — focusing on the devastating human cost of the fentanyl crisis — or keep it as a straightforward crime report?