Crime & Justice

Four charged in connection to Michael K. Williams overdose death

Michael K. Williams, 54, died of acute drug intoxication Sept. 6.

Published

4 years ago

February 2, 2022

From the April 12, 2010 presentation on "The Wire" at Charles Ogletree's seminar at Harvard University Law School. (Photo By Tim Pierce | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_K._Williams_Harvard_University.jpg)

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Four men have been charged in connection to the overdose death of actor Michael K Williams, federal authorities announced Wednesday.

Four men charged in connection to Michael K Williams overdose death

Hector Robles, Luis Cruz, Carlos Macci and Irvin Cartagena were each charged with narcotics conspiracy for distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that led to Williams’ overdose death in September 2021.

Drug operation in New York

The suspects were members of a drug crew and sold cocaine that was laced with deadly fentanyl.

Surveillance footage obtained by investigators shows Cartagena allegedly completing a hand-to-hand drug sale with Williams the day before he was found dead in his Williamsburg apartment.

The four men continued to sell the deadly drugs at residential buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan — even after learning their stash allegedly killed Williams, the feds said.

Michael K Williams death

New York City’s medical examiner ruled that Williams, 54, died of acute drug intoxication Sept. 6. He was found dead by family members in his penthouse apartment. At that time, the medical examiner’s office ruled Williams’ death an accident.

The U.S. attorney said the crimes and charges resulted from a “public health crisis.”

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