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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Federal authorities announced on October 30, 2025, that five men had been indicted in a conspiracy prosecutors allege caused the fatal overdoses of three 19-year-olds, including Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, actor Robert De Niro’s grandson. The indictment charges the men with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and other drugs; the allegations have not been proven in court.
Who are the five men charged?
The Drug Enforcement Administration named Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas and Roy Nicolas as defendants in the October 2025 indictment. CBS reported that all five made initial court appearances on October 31, 2025. Their reported arrest locations were Troy, New York, for Epperson; Houston, Texas, for McIver; Buffalo, New York, for John Nicolas; Valley Stream, New York, for Roy Nicolas; and Manhattan, where Barreto surrendered. The DEA’s announcement names the defendants and describes the charges; CBS’s report provides the appearance and arrest details.
What do prosecutors allege?
The indictment charges the five men with participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other drugs that prosecutors say caused the overdoses of three 19-year-olds. CBS and ABC reported prosecutors’ allegation that the network distributed thousands of counterfeit prescription opioid pills containing fentanyl, including through social media and encrypted messaging apps. Those claims remain allegations, not findings of guilt. ABC’s coverage also describes the alleged pill distribution.
CBS, citing court papers, reported that one victim had warned a defendant that drugs sold to her had caused an overdose and asked him to tell customers a batch “might be extra strong.” This is an account of what prosecutors say the court papers show, not an adjudicated finding.
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Who were the three victims?
- Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez was Robert De Niro’s grandson and the son of Drena De Niro. He died in Manhattan on July 2, 2023. CBS reported that the medical examiner ruled his death accidental, caused by a combination of fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs.
- Akira Stein, daughter of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein, died on May 30, 2023, according to CBS’s timeline.
- Victim-2 is how the DEA release identifies the third 19-year-old. The release does not publicly name this person.
The victim names and ages come from the DEA announcement; the dates and additional details are reported by CBS.
How is the 2025 indictment different from the earlier case?
Sofia H. Marks was charged separately in 2023 in connection with Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez’s death, CBS and ABC reported. That earlier case is distinct from the five-man indictment announced in October 2025. The cited reports do not establish the outcome of Marks’s case.
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What penalty could the five face?
The DEA said the charged conspiracy carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. This is the potential penalty stated in the charging announcement, not a sentence imposed and not a determination that any defendant is guilty.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the latest established case status?
The Southern District of New York court calendar listed status conferences for Nicolas, Epperson, Barreto and McIver in case 25-CR-496 on May 15, 2026. A calendar listing establishes that the conferences were scheduled; it does not show what happened at them or establish a later case outcome. The available sources do not establish whether any defendant has pleaded guilty, been convicted or been sentenced. The court’s calendar is the source for the scheduled date.
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