5 charged in overdose loss of life of Robert De Niro's grandson

[ad_1] 5 individuals have been charged in reference to the 2023 overdose loss of life of Robert De Niro's grandson and two different 19 12 months olds.

New York authorities accuse the suspects, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas, of working a fentanyl distribution community that offered counterfeit prescription opioid drugs by social media to youngsters and younger adults within the metropolis.

Authorities hyperlink the community to the overdose deaths of Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, Akira Stein - daughter of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein - and a 3rd unnamed sufferer.

The 5 are every charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute.

"Via their alleged actions, these defendants left behind a path of irreversible loss that minimize quick the lives of three youngsters who held boundless potential and who had already made profound, immeasurable impacts on those that knew them," mentioned Homeland Safety Investigations New York particular agent in cost Ricky Patel in a press release on Thursday.

Prosecutors allege the 5 used social media and encrypted messaging apps to promote hundreds fentanyl-laced drugs in New York between January and July 2023.

They allege that over that summer time, the medicine they offered led to at the very least three deaths.

Stein was discovered useless 30 Could after taking fentanyl-laced drugs she allegedly bought from John and Roy Nicolas. The unnamed sufferer, who died 13 June, allegedly bought drugs by an middleman from Mr McIver.

Authorities say De Niro-Rodriguez, who died 2 July, obtained drugs from a vendor who allegedly obtained them from Mr McIver, Mr Epperson, and Mr Barreto.

Separatedly in 2023, a lady was arrested for allegedly promoting De Niro-Rodriguez three counterfeit oxycodone drugs containing fentanyl - the medicine believed to have led to his loss of life - and tablets of Xanax.

In a press release after the loss of life of his grandson, Academy-Award winner De Niro mentioned he was "deeply distressed" by the passing of his "beloved grandson", who was the one little one of his daughter Drena.

In a press release on Instagram on Thursday, Chris Stein famous the arrests in his daughter's case and thanked officers "for this hope of some justice for her".