PICTURED: Female 'drug dealer' in court over death of De Niro grandson

PICTURED: Female ‘drug dealer,’ 20, known as PERCOCET PRINCESS appears in court over suspected OD death of Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro, 19

• Sofia Haley Marks, 20, appeared at a federal Manhattan court on Friday’
• She is charged with  distributing narcotics but did not enter a plea
• Leandro’s body was found sitting in a chair beside white powder on July 2

The woman arrested in connection with the suspected overdose death of Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro, 19, has been pictured in a court sketch.

Sofia Haley Marks, 20, known as the ‘Percocet Princess,’ is charged with distributing narcotics but did not enter a plea at a federal Manhattan court on Friday.

The judge did not set bail for her release.

Marks was arrested Thursday night at around 6 p.m. in an NYPD undercover sting operation.

Leandro’s lifeless body was found sitting in a chair beside white powder inside a $950,000, one-bedroom apartment on Wall Street in New York.

Sofia Haley Marks, 20, known as the ‘Percocet Princess,’ is charged with distributing narcotics. She was arrested in connection to the death of Leandro De Niro

Leandro’s body was found sitting in a chair beside white powder on July 2. His is pictured with his mom Drena and grandfather Robert De Niro

A police source tells DailyMail.com the substance was found near his body and there were no signs of trauma. He was found by a friend who hadn’t heard from him in a few days and was checking in on him.

Aspiring actor and director Leandro was following in his mother and grandfather’s career footsteps, landed a small role in 2018’s A Star Is Born as the son of Bradley Cooper’s best friend, George ‘Noodles’ Stone, played by Dave Chappelle. He also appeared in Cabaret Maxime in 2018. 

His mother Drena De Niro – an American actress adopted by De Niro after the actor married her mother, Diahnne Abbott in 1976 – announced his death. 

She made De Niro a grandfather in 2003 when she welcomed Leandro with her then-boyfriend, graffiti artist Carlos Rodriguez. 

Earlier this month, the grieving mother said on social media that her son died from a fentanyl overdose.

She claimed that someone sold her beloved son drugs that were tainted, causing his death.

‘Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him,’ Drena said on Instagram. 

She added: ‘For all these people still f–king around selling and buying this s–t, my son is gone forever,’ she added.

The mother made the remark in response to a commenter who asked her how her son had died.

De Niro also released a statement about his grandson’s death, saying he was ‘deeply distressed’ and appreciated the condolences which had poured in for his family.

Robert De Niro leaves the Frank E. Campbell Home with his family following his grandson’s death. Leandro’s mom said he died of a fentanyl overdose

‘Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him,’ Drena said on Instagram 

‘I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo,’ he said.

‘We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo.’

NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig told reporters last month that fentanyl is now ‘laced in probably 98% of the drugs’ in the Big Apple.

‘Fentanyl is in everything now, everything,’ Essig said. ‘Now people have low tolerance, that’s why they’re overdosing so much.’

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is also major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Illegally made fentanyl (IMF) is available on the drug market in different forms, including liquid and powder.

Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids.

Leandro’s death came after the Department of Justice filed charges against several Chinese companies and executives over their alleged role in the U.S. fentanyl trade.

Federal prosecutors say nearly all fentanyl precursors are manufactured and shipped from China today.

Criminal organizations like the infamous Sinaloa cartel in Mexico work with Chinese companies to get their ingredients for fentanyl.

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