Four Charged in Overdose Death of Michael K. Williams

4 persons are going through federal felony expenses in reference to the overdose demise of actor Michael Ok. Williams, well-known for his position as Omar Little on the HBO collection “The Wire,” federal prosecutors introduced on Wednesday.

Irvin Cartagena, 39, often known as “Inexperienced Eyes,” is charged with distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in Williams’ demise, U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams and New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell introduced in a joint assertion. Additionally charged within the alleged conspiracy are Hector Robles, 57, often known as “Oreja”; Luis Cruz, 56, often known as “Mostro”; and Carlos Macci, 70, a.okay.a. “Carlito.” All 4 defendants are from Brooklyn, based on the U.S. Division of Justice.

Cartagena was arrested in Puerto Rico on Tuesday and is within the means of being introduced again to New York to reply the costs, the DOJ stated. The opposite three have been additionally arrested on Tuesday, however their place of arrest was not instantly famous.

“Michael Ok. Williams, a distinguished actor and producer, tragically overdosed in his New York Metropolis residence from fentanyl-laced heroin,” U.S. Legal professional Williams stated. “At present, together with our legislation enforcement companions on the NYPD, we announce the arrests of members of a drug crew, together with Irvin Cartagena, the person who we allege offered the lethal dose of medication to Michael Ok. Williams.”

“This can be a public well being disaster,” the prosecutor stated. “And it has to cease. Lethal opioids like fentanyl and heroin don’t care about who you might be or what you’ve achieved. They simply feed habit and result in tragedy. The Southern District of New York and our legislation enforcement companions won’t quit. We are going to deliver each device to bear. And we’ll proceed to carry accountable the sellers who push this poison, exploit habit, and trigger mindless demise.”

Sewell stated NYPD officers have been “by no means relenting” of their pursuit of the matter and railed towards “criminals” who “peddle narcotics and prey on the harmless.”

Charging paperwork allege that since August 2020, a drug trafficking group (or DTO) has been working round 224 South third Avenue within the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.

“The DTO sells heroin laced with fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue on the road in entrance of, and from an residence within, the residence constructing” at that deal with, the DOJ continued. “On or about September 5, 2021, members of the DTO offered Michael Ok. Williams heroin, which was laced with fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue, with CARTAGENA executing the hand-to-hand transaction.”

A surveillance digital camera allegedly captured the deal.

“Williams died because of utilizing that fentanyl-laced heroin,” the DOJ continued. “Regardless of figuring out that Williams died after being offered the DTO’s product, CARTAGENA, ROBLES, CRUZ, and MACCI continued to promote fentanyl-laced heroin, in broad daylight, amidst residential residence buildings, in Brooklyn and Manhattan.”

Based on courtroom paperwork, Robles, Cruz, and Macci are charged with one rely of narcotics conspiracy. The defendant Williams is charged with the identical offense through a separate charging instrument.

Learn the charging paperwork under:

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