Five people arrested in connection to fatal overdose of Robert De Niro's grandson

Five people have been charged in connection with the fatal overdose of Robert De Niro's grandson and two other teenagers.

On July 2, 2023, the actor's grandson, Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, died in Manhattan, New York, after tragically overdosing on drugs.

The New York City Chief Medical Examiner ruled the 19-year-old passed away due to the toxic effects of fentanyl and other potent, illicit substances, including alprazolam, bromazolam, cocaine, ketamine and 7-aminoclonazepam.

The Medical Examiner's office confirmed that it was an accidental drug overdose death.

At the time of the news, the 82-year-old legendary actor, De Niro, said he was 'deeply distressed' by the death of his 'beloved grandson,' who was the only child of his daughter, Drena.

The Goodfellas star's daughter also paid an emotional tribute to her son, writing he was her 'joy', 'heart' and 'all that was ever pure and real in my life'.

Leandro was just 19 when he died (Instagram/drenadeniro)

"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," Drena wrote on the Instagram post. "You were so deeply loved and appreciated, and I wish that love alone could have saved you."

Now, New York authorities have named five more suspects in connection with the alleged dodgy narcotics network that has resulted in three deaths.

Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas have been arrested and charged in connection with Rodriguez's death, as well as two other teenagers, including Akira Stein, the daughter of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein, and an unnamed third victim.

A woman was also arrested in 2023 for allegedly selling the teen three counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl as well as Xanax tablets.

Robert De Niro paid homage to his grandson at the time of his death in 2023 (Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via Getty Images)

Prosecutors accuse the five men of having run an illicit fentanyl drug network that involved selling counterfeit prescription opioid pills on social media and other encrypted messaging platforms to youngsters and teenagers across the city between January and July 2023.

Each is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and could face at least 20 years behind bars to a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Homeland Security Investigations New York special agent in charge Ricky Patel also said in a statement on Thursday (October 30): "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 and who had already made profound, immeasurable impacts on those who knew them."

LADBible Group has contacted De Niro's reps for comment.