Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez died of an accidental drug overdose on July 2, 2023.

5 arrested in overdose death of Robert De Niro’s grandson in 2023

Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez died of an accidental drug overdose on July 2, 2023.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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on October 30, 2025 3:58 p.m. ET

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Robert De Niro; Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez. Credit:

Eugene Gologursky/Getty; Drena De Niro Instagram

Two years after the death of Robert De Niro's grandson, Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, several arrests have been made in connection with his accidental drug overdose, the Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed in a press conference on Thursday.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III and United States Attorney Jay Clayton of the Southern District of New York announced that five men have been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in the accidental drug overdose of Leandro, the only child of Robert's oldest daughter, Drena De Niro, as well as the death of several others.

Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez.

Drena De Niro/Instagram

Three 19-year-olds, including Leandro, died of overdoses in a three-month span during the summer of 2023. Each case involved fentanyl-laced pills.**

The arrests come two years after Sofia H. Marks was arrested in connection with Leandro's death. PEOPLE reported that the then 20-year-old was charged with one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and alprazolam, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, each of which also carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Plea information for Marks was not immediately available.

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Leandro was found dead in Manhattan on July 2, 2023. His death was ruled an accident, with the New York City medical examiner's office saying his death was attributed to the "toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine." **

Robert De Niro's grandson Leandro's cause of death confirmed

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, Robert De Niro's grandson, dies at 19

Drena initially shared the news of her son's death on social media. "My beautiful sweet angel," she wrote at the time. "I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life."

Drena continued, "I wish I was with you right now. 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. You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you."

She also tagged Carlos "Mare" Rodriguez, the father of Leandro, in her post. "I'm so sorry my baby," she concluded. "I'm so sorry @carlosmare. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy."**

Last year, Robert reflected on Leandro's death in an interview with PEOPLE. "It's just a shock," the *Killers of the Flower Moon* star told the outlet. "[I] never thought it would happen."**

He added, "And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him. I don't know if that would've made a difference. And so that's always playing through my mind."

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