Robert De Niro's Grandson Woman Arrested in Connection with Leandro's Death
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Cops have a woman in custody who they believe is directly tied to the overdose death of Robert De Niro's grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez ... and TMZ has learned the feds are now on the case too.
Law enforcement sources tell us the 20-year-old woman was busted Thursday in NYC by a joint NYPD and federal task force -- and they believe she sold drugs to Leandro before his death ... which his mother has said was due to a fentanyl OD.
We're told the suspect is being processed at this moment, and we don't know yet what charges she will be facing.
As we reported, the 19-year-old was found dead inside an apartment on July 2. He had appeared in the 2018 film, "A Star is Born" ... playing the son of Bradley Cooper's best friend, George "Noodles" Stone, played by Dave Chappelle. Leandro also appeared in "Cabaret Maxime" in 2018.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ Leandro's death is being investigated as an overdose. We're told the teen was house-sitting, and both drugs and drug paraphernalia were found near his body.
While authorities have yet to release an official cause of death, his mother, Drena De Niro, said last week, "Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him."
Story developing ...
White House Mystery Cocaine Case Closed ... Secret Service Can't ID Suspect!!!
12:30 PM PT -- Former Secret Service agent Bobby McDonald says the Secret Service doesn't have video footage of who left their cocaine in the White House because the area where it was found is lacking security cameras.
Bobby joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and explained why the area of the West Wing where the cocaine baggie was found isn't closely monitored with video surveillance ... though he thinks the Secret Service will use the incident to implement some changes.
He says the Secret Service narrowed down the list of possible suspects, based on who was in the area during the time frame, but without video or physical evidence to nail a culprit ... the case is now closed.
Whoever left their coke in the White House can smile ... they're not gonna get busted for it, because the Secret Service has no video evidence to nail a suspect.
The Secret Service says it closed its investigation into the bag of cocaine that was found July 2 in the West Wing -- and, absolutely stunningly, they've been unable to identify who left it.
The agency says there was "no surveillance video footage found" that revealed who made the coke drop. Further, the Secret Service says the FBI lab couldn't find any fingerprints or DNA it could use to compare with the "known pool of individuals" ... such as White House staffers.
Interestingly, authorities say the coke was found in a "receptacle used to temporarily store electronic and personal devices prior to entering the West Wing."
You'd think there are security cameras blanketing nearly every inch of the President's residence -- especially in the West Wing, which hosts so many visitors, journalists and staffers each day. If ya buy what the Secret Service is saying here ... that's, apparently, not the case.
The Secret Service says it's closing the investigation "due to a lack of physical evidence."
Originally Published -- 9:10 AM PT
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Las Vegas Streaker Wife Comes To His Defense ... He was Drugged!!!
The man who went on a violent, sexually charged rampage in Las Vegas over the weekend was drugged ... at least according to his family.
Brian Danilczyk downed a drink laced with hallucinogenics, causing him to slug a one-legged man at the Flamingo Hotel Sunday, his wife reportedly told the press.
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Danilczyk then got naked and barged inside Harrah's Hotel and Casino, where he flaunted his genitals and danced on top of a poker table. Vegas cops wrestled Brian to the floor, arresting him for indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.
But his other half, Michele, placed blame for the crimes on someone else in a text message exchange with the New York Post. First, Michele described Brian as a "great person" who would never normally behave in such a way, insisting, "He is the victim."
Then Michele said the person who spiked her husband's drink is the real criminal, adding that Brian had a severe hallucinogenic reaction and has no recollection of what happened. She said they are working with doctors who have performed toxicology tests to determine the type of substance Brian consumed.
We've contacted Vegas police to check out Michele's story about the mysterious person who spiked the drink ... so far no word back.
We covered it all on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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Barry Bonds Hall Of Fame Snub Bothers Me ... 'I Was Vindicated'
Barry Bonds is patiently waiting for Cooperstown to unlock its doors and finally let him in ... saying he personally feels like he belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame, as he was never convicted of using steroids.
The home run king made a rare statement on his H.O.F. snub with the "Hollywood Swingin'" podcast this week ... saying he is bothered by the fact his own sport continues to hold a grudge when the court of law has vindicated him.
Of course, BB is widely considered one of, if not the greatest, athletes to ever step foot in the batter's box ... but his legacy was tarnished by allegations of using performance-enhancing drugs.
But, Barry says records are records, and MLB already punishes players when they break rules ... so he's upset that the baseball hall has decided to "double punish" people who have made mistakes at some point in their careers.
Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice back in 2011 over his alleged use of PEDs ... but ultimately, the case was dropped.
Barry believes the sentence overturn should justify his place in the Hall ... and the media does not hold the higher ground when it comes to determining who should be regarded as the greats.
Barry -- who hit 762 home runs during his career -- was an MVP before anyone ever accused him of using 'roids ... and many believe he belongs in the Hall despite the scandal.
Bonds lost his shot at getting in the Hall on his 10th year of eligibility ... but the door is not completely closed yet, as he could potentially have his ticket punched in 2026.
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Lamar Odom Alma Mater Wants Him To Coach Hoops ... Seriously Considering Gig
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Lamar Odom's got a job offer to be the next head basketball coach at his former New York high school ... and he's giving the prospect some serious consideration.
A source familiar with the situation tells TMZ … Lamar recently had a conversation with the folks at Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, NY and was presented with an offer to be the head coach.
We're told Lamar originally reached out to the school about a month ago to inquire about the current head coach. Shortly after, the conversation developed into the school asking if he would consider taking the head coaching job for this upcoming school year. Should Lamar accept, we're told he would start in August and coach for 4 months, during the season.
Lamar's connection to the school is personal ... he played his senior season at Redemption, where he was named National Player of the Year by Parade Magazine. Lamar averaged 25 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists and 5 blocks at Redemption, and he was also named a McDonald's All-American and played in the 1997 Magic Johnson Roundball Classic.
Our sources say Lamar would love a coaching job in California, where he currently lives, but he's seriously considering taking the position at Redemption because the school has a special place in his heart. Of course, if Lamar accepts he would move to NY and live there during the season.
Ultimately, we're told Lamar wants to coach college basketball in the future ... and he also wants to get back in the classroom and earn his BA in business, which would help with his Odom Recovery Group.
Our sources say those plans are on hold until Lamar decides if he wants to coach at Redemption.
The clock's ticking ... we're told Lamar only has a few more weeks to give the school an answer.
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Honey Boo Boo Dad Goes MIA Before Scheduled Rehab at Lamar Odom's Facility
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Honey Boo Boo's dad was supposed to check in for some much-needed help to combat his prescription pill addiction at a rehab owned by Lamar Odom, but he's since gone MIA ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to Lamar tell us Sugar Bear was scheduled to fly into Kansas Thursday night and begin treatment with Odom Recovery Group at the Gold Bridge Treatment Center for his serious issues. However, we're told he never got on that flight ... and he's giving the Odom group radio silence.
Our sources say Lamar and co. believe SB simply got cold feet, because first he told them he couldn't attend the rehab because of work, then said he couldn't go because he was in the hospital for another health issue.
We're told Lamar's team isn't giving up on Sugar Bear, and hope he'll change his mind on getting help -- but he's not been responsive in their efforts to get in touch.
As we reported ... Lamar purchased 3 rehab centers in California earlier this year, and he's built on that foundation ever since.
Bam Margera is one celeb Lamar's worked tirelessly to get into treatment ... but the former "Jackass" star left one of Lamar's facilities only a few days after checking in.
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Honey Boo Boo's Dad To Check Into Lamar's Rehab Facility ... Prescription Drug Addiction
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Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson is seeking help for an addiction ... and he's turning to one of Lamar Odom's rehab centers for treatment.
Sources close to Sugar Bear tell TMZ ... he reached out to Lamar over the weekend about going to one of his treatment centers, and on Thursday evening he will check into a facility in Kansas to focus on his recovery.
We're told Honey Boo Boo's dad is hooked on prescription drugs he started taking as part of his diabetes treatments, and he also has severe depression and anxiety.
Our sources say Sugar Bear first met Lamar last summer through their manager, and they've since established a friendship, which led him to start rehab at the Gold Bridge Treatment Center in Louisburg -- part of the Odom Recovery Group.
We're told Sugar Bear hasn't had a relationship with Honey Boo Boo for more than a year now, and he was noticeably absent from her graduation. It's unclear if their estrangement is tied to his addiction.
Our sources say Sugar Bear is still hoping he can mend fences with his daughter once he's completed his rehab stint.
As we reported, Sugar Bear underwent an astonishing makeover last year following a cancer scare, but since then he's hit a rough patch -- we're told his most recent girlfriend broke up with him a month ago, and he hasn't been handling it well.
Hopefully, rehab helps him turn things around.
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Robert De Niro Grandson Died from Fentanyl-Laced Drugs, Mom Says
Robert De Niro's grandson is one of the latest victims of the fentanyl crisis ... according to his mother.
Leandro De Niro's mother confirms TMZ's story ... police are investigating the 19-year-old's death as a possible overdose, and adds someone consciously sold him tainted drugs.
Drena De Niro said on Instagram, Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him."
She went on ... "So for all these people still f**king around selling and buying this s***, my son is gone forever."
As we reported, police found drugs and drug paraphernalia near his body at a New York City Apartment.
The Medical Examiner has not determined an official cause of death. Toxicology tests could take a while. The Manhattan D.A. is now on the case as well, so it appears authorities are looking for the drug dealer.
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Jennifer Lopez Defends Launching New Booze Brand ... I Drink But I Don't Get 'S**t-faced!'
Jennifer Lopez's new alcohol brand drew a lot of questions and even some criticism from folks who thought her household was booze-free -- but she's setting the record straight.
The triple-threat entertainer hopped on IG Tuesday to both plug her just-launched spritzer line, Delola, and defend herself against fans who were apparently calling her out over it ... namely, the fact Jen has, historically, sworn off booze in the public eye.
Check it out ... Jennifer says she's aware of certain people raising an eyebrow about this business venture, and she addresses it head-on -- which also includes a confession.
She says while it's true she didn't drink for a long time while coming up, that changed about 10-15 years ago ... at which point, Jen says she began to enjoy the occasional cocktail. J Lo says there's photographic evidence of this and that it's well-documented, BTW.
Another point of clarification ... Jen says she drinks responsibly and doesn't get "s***-faced." As she says herself, she just sips a little to be social and to relax/cut loose a bit. And as far as why she chose a spritzer as her alcohol of choice, she says it's light and relatively healthy.
One specific dig she did not address -- but which is certainly being discussed -- is Ben Affleck's alcoholism ... something he's battled for years, and which he seems to have kicked after stints of rehab, including a very famous one that roped in his ex, Jennifer Garner.
As we've reported ... he's had his ups and downs with alcohol, and JLo's been getting a lot of disapproval on that front too -- especially for advertising it on the 4th of July, no less.
Ben has said nothing about it himself, so you gotta figure he's on the same page as his wife -- and that Delola isn't a problem in the blended Affleck-Lopez family ... who looked quite happy and in sync this weekend.
Carry on, people ... no outrage to be had here.
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White House Cocaine Possibly Found in West Wing ... Fire IDs It as Blow
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Cocaine may have been found inside the White House this weekend -- and it appears to have been discovered in an area that President Biden frequents a lot on the job.
The Secret Service says it discovered a white powdery substance Sunday night in the West Wing during routine rounds. It's unclear where exactly in the West Wing it was found -- but a spokesperson for the agency will only say agents stumbled upon it in a "work area."
The SS rep also notes any notion the substance might've been found in the executive mansion is false. While Secret Service won't disclose where the alleged coke lay, it appears DC's FEMS let the cat outta the bag ... reportedly relaying via dispatch it was in the library.
POTUS was not at the White House during this entire ordeal, BTW.
The discovery of the unknown powder prompted an increased security alert and a brief evacuation of the premises, and tests are being done to decide what it might be. WaPo, citing sources familiar with the matter, says preliminary tests suggest it is, in fact, blow.
Speaking of that dispatch audio from earlier ... it seems a firefighter who was on the ground firmly believed cocaine was the culprit, -- telling the department's hazardous materials team that a test they conducted indicated "cocaine hydrochloride." No ambiguity at all.
Officials are saying the substance did not pose a threat, and an investigation is underway as to how it made its way into the White House ... and, obviously, who brought it in.
Biden and his family left the White House Friday and returned Tuesday. The White House punted in a response to us -- saying they're deferring to the Secret Service on this.
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Young Buck Gets Into Fight w/ Afroman's Crew ... After Gut Check Gone Wrong
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Afroman and Young Buck were recently at odds -- and it got so ugly, hands were thrown ... leading to a full-blown brouhaha breaking out between their respective crews.
Sources with knowledge tell TMZ ... the G-Unit rapper got into it last weekend with one of Afroman's up-and-coming artists, Lil Sodi, at this place called The Zarati Shop in Abingdon, VA -- where Afroman and co. were scheduled to perform, and where YB was also performing.
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We're told after Buck exited the stage and Afroman was getting ready to go out there ... some kind of altercation occurred in the VIP room that escalated into a brawl between Sodi and Buck -- and it required lots of people to help break it up.
Afroman took to social media to explain things from his POV. The guy claims Young Buck rolled into the VIP room -- where he and Sodi were -- and appeared to be intoxicated. Not just that, but Afroman says Buck was hurling profanities and being disrespectful ... especially to Sodi.
Afroman says they tried to get Buck to leave them alone, but alleges he kept at it ... and Afroman claims Buck actually smacked Sodi in the stomach ... which apparently set Sodi off.
As you see in our video, it took a while to separate the parties -- Afroman wasn't directly involved in the mix -- and tensions were high in the room. Afroman came down on the venue staffers, whom he said had a responsibility to manage Buck and the talent better.
Now, Young Buck himself had words for Afroman and co. after the fact ... continuing to taunt them and suggesting they could finish their business at another time, while also claiming he was just trying to come show them love and they jumped him.
It's clear Afroman doesn't wanna drag this out -- he posted a peace treaty and well-wishes.
This episode ended with Buck/his crew being removed from the property -- and, thankfully, without cops being called. We've reached out to Buck for comment ... so far, no word back.
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'Rust' Armorer Allegedly Ditched Cocaine After Shooting
'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed allegedly ditched a bag of cocaine, handing it off to another person in the hours after Halyna Hutchins was killed ... this according to prosecutors.
According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, prosecutors claim to have a witness who says Gutierrez-Reed transferred a "small bag of cocaine" to them on October 21, 2021 ... after she sat through an interview with police following Hutchins' on-set death.
They say the alleged handoff demonstrates that Reed was trying to avoid prosecution and hide evidence that would further implicate her involvement in the fatal shooting.
Prosecutors say the witness had concerns about coming forward ... telling them, "I will never be able to work in the film industry again." Prosecutors are now asking for a protective order, keeping the person off any publicly-available witness lists and barring Gutierrez-Reed's camp from releasing the witness' identity.
As we reported, Gutierrez-Reed's been charged with tampering with evidence in relation to the alleged passed-off cocaine.
Her attorney, Jason Bowles, told TMZ, "It is shocking that after 20 months of investigation, the special prosecutor now throws in a completely new charge against Ms. Gutierrez-Reed, with no prior notice or any witness statements, lab reports, or evidence to support it" ... adding, "This stinks to high heaven and is retaliatory and vindictive."
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Draymond Green Fails To Chug Beer On Golf Course ... Disappoints Kelce!!!
3:02 PM PT -- Draymond has another reason to chug a cold one ... or should we say 100 million reasons. The NBA star is re-signing with the Warriors, according to Shams Charania, who reports the 4-time champion is inking a new deal worth $100 million over 4 years.
It was a rough day to be a Golden State Warrior on Thursday ... while Klay Thompson and Steph Curry were bad on the golf course, Draymond Green showed he's got ZERO skills when it comes to chugging beer!
The comically awful showing from the NBA stars all went down during the eighth iteration of The Match at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas ... when the Splash Brothers were trying to beat Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in the annual charity golf event.
Thompson and Curry struggled mightily against the Kansas City Chiefs superstars ... losing the contest in just 10 holes.
Travis Kelce wins it for Team Mahomes/Kelce (+210 ML) 🔥#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/1HjQAeBA7I
— br_betting (@br_betting) June 30, 2023 @br_betting
But, perhaps the bigger story happened earlier in the evening ... when Kelce gave Green a booze-slugging contraption and 12 ounces of Coors Light.
The tight end tried his best to get Green to pour it out properly down his throat -- but check out the video ... Green was awful!!
The 33-year-old got more of it on his shirt than in his mouth -- and Kelce was cracking up over it all!!
To his credit, Green was a good sport about the snafu ... though he did try to blame Kelce's device for the mishap.
Travis Kelce chugging beers between holes 😂#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/W1MMwbhI1k
— br_betting (@br_betting) June 30, 2023 @br_betting
For Kelce's part, he showed he had absolutely no issues with the thing just a few minutes before Green's debacle ... slamming a Silver Bullet in less than four seconds.
The day -- despite the Warriors' worst efforts -- was still a good one nonetheless ... it showed Mahomes is truly good at everything, AND it raised a ton of cash for various charities.
Mahomes CAN'T MISS on the green 🔥#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/YT28YiqpFl
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2023 @BleacherReport
Good work, guys!
Originally Published -- 6:46 AM PT
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Kodak Black All Smiles, Performing Minutes After Jail Release!!!
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Kodak Black didn't let a quick stint in the slammer jack his groove ... the "Super Gremlin" rapper made bail and quickly hit up a charity event where he raised thousands of bucks!!!
Bradford Cohen, Kodak's lawyer, tells TMZ Hip Hop, his client was released from the Broward County jail only 40 minutes after being booked. He was arrested for failing to check in for a mandatory drug test.
Kodak almost immediately put the short jail stint in his rearview... jamming out to his classic, "No Flockin'" record ... as G Herbo looked on. He drew a big crowd and everyone was celebrating.
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The money raised went to the Innocence Project, which works to free people wrongfully convicted of a crime.
The concert went down inside the Pompano Beach Amphitheater ... with performances by Herbo, Rico Cartel, iCandy and Sniper Gang.
As we reported, Kodak had his bond upped from $75k to $250k ... but has had his travel and tour restrictions lifted ... which clears the way for his upcoming show in Europe.
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Lamar Odom I'm Super Worried Bam Ditched Detox ... But I Know How to Get His Attention
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Lamar Odom is worried for Bam Margera ... worried he's keeping bad company.
As we first reported ... Bam was detoxing in San Diego earlier this month with Lamar's help, but he left early, and given Bam's track record, Lamar is concerned.
Lamar clearly thinks Bam is hanging with the wrong crowd, saying, "Who you surround yourself with is critical. We are the company we keep."
Bam actually stayed with Lamar last weekend after leaving the detox center, but he bounced and Odom thinks that's more than problematic.
Lamar thinks there's a card his friends and family can play that could get Bam's attention ... namely his ability to see is son, Phoenix.
Remember, Bam threatened to smoke crack until he died if he couldn't see his kid, so that could be a pressure point that works.
Lamar says he's going to try and track Bam down and encourage him to go to rehab at the Odom Recovery Group.
Stay tuned ...
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NBA's Devonte' Graham Pleads Guilty To Driving While Impaired
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San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte' Graham has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired stemming from his July 2022 arrest ... TMZ Sports has learned.
According to a spokesperson for the Wake County District Attorney's Office, Graham entered the plea during a court hearing on Tuesday after cutting a deal with prosecutors.
NBA's Devonte' Graham Arrested For DWI, Allegedly Had .11 BAC
We're told the speeding charge that Graham was also facing in the case will be dismissed as part of the deal.
A sentencing hearing for Graham has now been slated for next month.
The 28-year-old NBA player was initially hit with the two charges back on July 7, 2022 ... after authorities in Raleigh, North Carolina say he had been doing 63 MPH in a 40 MPH zone while intoxicated at around 3 AM.
Police at the time said after pulling over Graham for speeding, breath tests revealed he had a BAC of .11.
Graham -- a former second-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft -- had been playing for the New Orleans Pelicans at the time of the arrest ... but he was traded to the Spurs roughly seven months later as part of a deal for Josh Richardson.
Graham went on to play in 20 games for San Antonio, averaging 13 points per game.
We've reached out to Graham's attorney for comment, but so far, no word back yet.