Woman Arrested on Federal Narcotics Charges Linked to Death of Robert De Niro’s Grandson

New York City police officers and federal drug agents have arrested a woman on federal narcotics charges for allegedly selling pills laced with fentanyl that led to the death of actor Robert De Niro’s 19-year-old grandson. Sofia Haley Marks, 20, faces three counts of distribution of narcotics. The victim in the case, identified as Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on July 2. The cause of his death is still under investigation.

According to a federal complaint filed on Friday, Marks allegedly sold Rodriguez three counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and two counterfeit Xanax pills the day before his death. Detectives claim that Rodriguez died after ingesting one of the oxycodone pills. Marks was later found to be in possession of 156 counterfeit oxycodone pills and $1,500 in cash.

Rodriguez was the son of Drena De Niro and artist Carlos Mare. Like his famous grandfather, Rodriguez was an actor and had appeared in projects alongside his mother, including Bradley Cooper’s 2018 remake of “A Star is Born.” Robert De Niro expressed his deep distress over the passing of his beloved grandson and has not yet commented on the recent arrest.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is known to be 50 times more powerful than heroin. In the United States, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl have been responsible for two-thirds of the more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2022, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing crisis of opioid addiction and the dangers posed by counterfeit drugs laced with potent substances like fentanyl. The arrest of Marks highlights law enforcement’s efforts to combat drug trafficking and prevent further loss of life.

The investigation into Rodriguez’s death is still ongoing, and it remains to be seen how Marks’ arrest will impact the case. As the legal proceedings continue, it is crucial to address the underlying issues of drug addiction and provide support to those affected by this epidemic.