
Audio By Carbonatix
Four men have been arrested for allegedly being part of a drug trafficking organization that sold deadly fentanyl-laced heroin to actor and producer Michael K. Williams, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York.
Williams, best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO's "The Wire," was found dead in September 2021 at his New York City apartment.
The New York City Medical Examiner's Office later determined Williams died from an accidental overdose.
Irvin Cartagena, 39, Hector Robles, 57, Luis Cruz, 56, and Carlos Macci, 70, were arrested on Tuesday and were each charged with "conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl analogue, fentanyl, and heroin," according court filings.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years.
The four men allegedly continued selling fentanyl-laced heroin in Manhattan and Brooklyn even after learning of Williams' death, according to prosecutors.
"Deadly opioids like fentanyl and heroin don't care about who you are or what you've accomplished," said US Attorney Damian Williams in a statement.
"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 allegedly personally gave Michael K. Williams heroin laced with fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue, 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, according to court filings.
Cartagena will be arraigned in federal court in Puerto Rico, where he was arrested, on Thursday, while Robles, Cruz, and Macci will be arraigned on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron, according to the press release.
Latest Stories
-
MTN Ashanti-Fest music concert set to hit Kumasi on Saturday
41 seconds -
Authorities probe discovery of dead fish at Tema shipyard
3 minutes -
Minority welcomes fuel tax cuts, demands accountability for GH¢1 levy
13 minutes -
It remains a priority — Sam George on Anti-LGBTQ bill
19 minutes -
Police arrest Nigerian national seen in viral videos wearing police uniforms
21 minutes -
Free golf training empowers underprivileged girls in Accra
37 minutes -
Why SIGA’s reset is not a market sin, but a national necessity
40 minutes -
SIGA Directive: Beyond the theatre of institutional displacement
43 minutes -
Boso Odweegyi Festival 2026 launched with call for unity, cultural preservation
44 minutes -
YEA clears majority of beneficiary arrears, assures completion of outstanding payments
1 hour -
AfCFTA key to building globally competitive African businesses – Zambia envoy urges Ghanaian CEOs
2 hours -
Albert Kobina Mensah, soil pollution and remediation: Risk assessment, phytoremediation, revegetation
2 hours -
GIFEC supports national rollout of One Million Coders Programme with laptop presentation
2 hours -
Old Tafo MP rolls out street lights project to boost security and night-time economy
2 hours -
Telecel Ghana CEO urges urgent education reform and stronger industry-academia partnership at UEW Public Lecture
2 hours