Brooklyn dealer who gave Michael K Williams fentanyl-laced heroin faces between 5 and 40 years in prison

A Brooklyn drug dealer pleaded guilty Wednesday to providing The Wire actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-spiked heroin, which caused his death.

Irvin Cartagena’s pleading plea for conspiracy to distribute drugs that killed Williams in September 2021 was filed in Manhattan federal court.

The sentencing was set by US District Judge Ronnie Abrams for August 18, when Cartagena will face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and the possibility of up to 40 years.

The famous actor, who has also starred in films and other TV series such as Boardwalk Empire, overdosed on September 6, 2021 at his Brooklyn penthouse apartment.

Authorities said he died hours after buying the Cartagena-made heroin on a Brooklyn sidewalk at a transaction that was recorded by security cameras.

Irvin Cartagena’s (pictured left) plea for a drug-distribution conspiracy indictment that killed actor Michael K. Williams (pictured right) in September 2021 was filed in Manhattan federal court

Cartagena, 39, signed an agreement with prosecutors stating that the heroin and fentanyl concoction he was selling Williams resulted in his death. His attorney, Sean Maher, declined to comment.

Both times he was released on the street without bail under the terms of the New York bail bond reform.

The drug charges were consolidated in August 2021 and Cartegena avoided jail time by pleading guilty to disorderly conduct, the Daily Beast reported.

The ring, which Cartagena was involved in, was primarily focused on fentanyl and heroin-spiked fentanyl as they sold the drugs outside of their home, where Cartagena, known as “Green Eyes,” met with Williams on September 5, 2021 allegedly selling him the drugs.

CCTV captured the moment Cartagena handed Williams the drugs a day before the actor’s death.

The actor, who rose to fame as drug dealer Omar Little on The Wire, was found unconscious and face down in the living room of Williams’ Williamsburg apartment the following day by his nephew. He was pronounced dead by medics who rushed to the scene.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who is not related to the actor, said in a statement that the sale “came in broad daylight in New York City, nurtured addiction and caused tragedy.”

“In doing so, he administered the lethal dose that killed Michael K. Williams,” Williams said.

The famous actor, who has also starred in films and other TV series such as Boardwalk Empire, overdosed on September 6, 2021 at his Brooklyn penthouse apartment

Actor Michael K. Williams (left, dressed in black) bought drugs from Irvin Cartagena (in blue pants) September 5, a day before he died of a fatal overdose of fentanyl-spiked heroin

Street camera footage showed Williams walking onto the street where Cartagena and his associates are said to be running their drug trafficking operation

Prosecutors said Cartagena and his suspected co-conspirators continued to sell fentanyl-laced heroin in apartment buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan even after learning of the actor’s death.

Another defendant in the case pleaded guilty on Tuesday.

Williams’ death came despite an investigation by the New York City Police Department that brought a paid whistleblower who buys controlled heroin to the same block where Williams bought drugs.

The day after, the informant went back to buy more drugs from the same group and recorded a conversation in which some of them were talking about William’s overdose. One refused to sell drugs containing fentanyl.

Williams’ stick-up boy character Omar Little on The Wire — a fictional look at Baltimore fundamentals that ended in 2008 but remains popular on streaming — was based on a real-life character.

He created another classic character as Chalky White on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and has also appeared in 12 Years a Slave, Assassin’s Creed, and other films.

In interviews, Williams had spoken about his struggles with addiction.

Although Williams’ fatal overdose was initially ruled an accident, NYPD Deputy Chief John Chell had directed the 90th Precinct Detective Squad and the Brooklyn North Narcotics Group, who were in charge of the investigation, to treat the death as a homicide.

Williams was spotted in his penthouse apartment in Brooklyn’s hip Williamsburg neighborhood. The pricey complex is right on the water and offers expansive views over Manhattan

A swarm of police officers were also spotted at the scene after Williams’ nephew allegedly called 911 on Sept. 6. They are seen removing evidence bags from the actor’s home

According to the Daily Beast’s investigation, the actor drove from Manhattan to Williamsburg on September 5 on the last day of William’s life.

Street camera footage showed Williams walking onto the street where Cartagena and his associates are said to be running their drug trafficking operation.

Upon reaching the apartment, Williams was seen walking down the street up to five men, one of whom was identified as Cartagena.

Williams handed the man a wad of cash, and Cartagena could be seen counting the bills before reaching into a paper bag hidden next to a blue recycling bin outside the apartment.

Prosecutors said that was when Cartagena handed Williams the fentanyl-spiked heroin that would kill him the next day.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more potent. It can cause death in high doses or in combination with other substances.

Detectives noted that the men appeared relaxed throughout the transaction, exchanging phone numbers and chatting, unaware it was all being caught on cameras.

“These cameras are pointed directly at the building all day,” Detective Mark Gurleski told the Daily Beast.

Cartagena, 39, signed an agreement with prosecutors stating that the heroin and fentanyl concoction he was selling Williams resulted in his death. His attorney, Sean Maher, declined to comment

Prosecutors said Cartagena and his suspected co-conspirators continued to sell fentanyl-laced heroin in apartment buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan even after learning of the actor’s death

Williams then drove home to his apartment, making no stops along the way.

Detectives also noted that Williams appeared to be acting strangely in his final hours, parking his car in a restricted area at his home, despite neighbors calling him “responsible” and “considerate.”

Chell called it “very uncharacteristic”.

Police said their timeline for Williams ended when he got out at his penthouse and missed a call from his nephew Dominic DuPont, who checked on his uncle the next day and found him dead.

According to investigative documents submitted by Gurleski to the Justice Department, police in Cartagena quickly got there and identified him just a day later.

Investigators then bought drugs from him on two separate occasions, once on September 8th and then again a week later on September 15th.

The drugs were handed over in envelopes marked “AAA Insurance,” which matched those found at William’s death.

Investigators then built their case against Cartagena, seeking his co-conspirators before finally arresting them on Tuesday.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk