The 4 had been charged in a legal criticism unsealed Tuesday in a narcotics conspiracy alleging the distribution of fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted within the loss of life of the actor.
4 males believed to be members of a drug distribution crew have been charged within the overdose loss of life of actor Michael Okay. Williams 5 months in the past, authorities mentioned Wednesday.
All 4 had been arrested Tuesday and had been in custody primarily based on legal complaints in Manhattan federal court docket, together with one defendant who was arrested in Puerto Rico, in line with a information launch from U.S. Lawyer Damian Williams and New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell.
Three defendants had been scheduled to make preliminary appearances in Manhattan federal court docket to face narcotics conspiracy costs alleging the distribution of fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted within the loss of life of Williams, who gained fame taking part in Omar Little on The Wire.
New York Metropolis’s health worker earlier dominated that Williams, 54, died of acute drug intoxication Sept. 6. He was discovered useless by members of the family in his penthouse condominium. At the moment, the health worker’s workplace dominated Williams’ loss of life an accident.
The U.S. lawyer mentioned the crimes and costs resulted from a “public well being disaster.”
“And it has to cease. Lethal opioids like fentanyl and heroin don’t care about who you're or what you’ve completed. They simply feed habit and result in tragedy,” the prosecutor mentioned.
Sewell mentioned police detectives in Brooklyn “lived this case, by no means relenting of their investigation till they might convey a measure of justice to Michael Okay. Williams and his household.”
In keeping with court docket papers, Williams’ loss of life resulted from medication offered by a drug trafficking group that has operated since a minimum of August 2020 in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood.
Authorities mentioned members of the group offered the actor heroin laced with fentanyl Sept. 5.
The court docket papers contained pictures, together with one by which defendant Irvin Cartagena could be seen executing the hand-to-hand transaction, authorities mentioned. They added that the screenshots had been taken from surveillance video.
It was not instantly clear who would signify Cartagena, 39, of Brooklyn, in court docket.
Authorities mentioned that the lads continued to promote fentanyl-laced heroin in broad daylight amid condominium buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan, even after understanding that Williams had died from considered one of their merchandise.