Five people have been charged in connection with the 2023 overdose death of Robert De Niro's grandson and two other 19 year olds.

New York authorities accuse the suspects, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas, of running a fentanyl distribution network that sold counterfeit prescription opioid pills through social media to teenagers and young adults in the city.

Authorities link the network to the overdose deaths of Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, Akira Stein - daughter of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein - and a third unnamed victim.

The five are each charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute.

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, said Homeland Security Investigations New York special agent in charge Ricky Patel.

Prosecutors allege the five used social media and encrypted messaging apps to sell thousands of fentanyl-laced pills in New York between January and July 2023.

Their drugs reportedly led to at least three deaths over that summer.

Stein was found dead on May 30 after taking fentanyl-laced pills she allegedly purchased from John and Roy Nicolas. The unnamed victim, who died on June 13, bought pills through an intermediary from Mr. McIver.

Authorities say De Niro-Rodriguez, who died on July 2, obtained pills from a dealer connected to Mr. McIver, Mr. Epperson, and Mr. Barreto.

In a separate incident in 2023, a woman was arrested for allegedly selling De Niro-Rodriguez three counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and tablets of Xanax.

Following the loss of his grandson, Robert De Niro shared his deep distress over the tragic passing of his beloved grandson, who was the only child of his daughter Drena.

Chris Stein, in a statement on Instagram, acknowledged the arrests in his daughter's case and expressed gratitude to officials for potential justice.

If found guilty, the charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.