A 20-year-old woman was arrested in the bustling streets of New York City on Thursday night as part of a drug dealing investigation connected to the tragic death of Robert De Niro’s grandson, as per law enforcement sources shared with ABC News.
The woman in question, Sofia Haley Marks, was apprehended on federal charges related to drug distribution and is slated to make an appearance in a Manhattan federal court on Friday, according to reliable sources.
Dubbed the “Percocet Princess” on the streets, Marks allegedly supplied drugs to Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, a 19-year-old who tragically lost his life. This arrest is a significant development in an ongoing joint operation involving the New York City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Authorities have been actively investigating De Niro-Rodriguez’s untimely demise on July 2 in Lower Manhattan, with a focus on a possible drug overdose. However, an official cause of death has not been determined as of yet.
Drena De Niro, the mother of De Niro-Rodriguez, shared the heartbreaking news of her son’s passing in an Instagram post on July 3 but refrained from providing specific details regarding the circumstances of his death.
It’s worth noting that Drena De Niro was adopted by Robert De Niro during his marriage to Diahnne Abbott, the acclaimed actor’s first wife. Drena De Niro happens to be Abbott’s daughter from a previous relationship.
Interestingly, De Niro-Rodriguez was also involved in the world of acting, having shared the screen with his mother in notable films like “A Star Is Born” and “Cabaret Maxime” back in 2018.
As investigations continue and the public mourns the loss of young talent, the arrest of Sofia Haley Marks sheds light on the complex and tragic circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident.
ABC News’ Carson Blackwelder and Stephen Iervolino contributed to this report.