Four men have been arrested for allegedly taking part in a drug trafficking organization that sold deadly fentanyl-laced heroin to actor and producer Michael K. Williams. A press release from the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York was released on February 2nd.
Williams was best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO’s “The Wire”. He was found dead in his NYC apartment in September 2021. The Medical Examiner’s Office in New York City determined Williams died from an accidental overdose.
Irvin Cartagena, 39, Hector Robles, 57, Luis Cruz, 56, and Carlos Macci, 70, were arrested on February 2nd and charged with “conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl analogue, fentanyl, and heroin,” according to filings from the court. A mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years is what the charge carries.
According to prosecutors, the four men continued selling fentanyl-laced heroin in Manhattan and Brooklyn even after learning of Williams’ death.
“Deadly opioids like fentanyl and heroin don’t care about who you are or what you’ve accomplished,” said US Attorney Damian Williams.”They just feed addiction and lead to tragedy. The Southern District of New York and our law enforcement partners will not give up. We will bring every tool to bear. And we will continue to hold accountable the dealers who push this poison, exploit addiction, and cause senseless death.”
Cartagena, who personally gave Michael Williams heroin laced with fentanyl is also charged with causing the actor’s death and faces a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
