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Irvin Cartagena: Drug dealer who supplied fentanyl-laced heroin to Michael K Williams gets 5 years

Drug dealer who supplied the fatal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin that caused Michael K Williams' death in 2021 entered a plea agreement
UPDATED APR 6, 2023
Irvin Cartagena received a minimum sentence of five years for supplying Michael K Williams fentanyl-laced drugs that led to his death (@U.S. DoJ and Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images)
Irvin Cartagena received a minimum sentence of five years for supplying Michael K Williams fentanyl-laced drugs that led to his death (@U.S. DoJ and Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The Justice Department reported that the drug dealer who supplied the fatal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin that caused 'The Wire' actor Michael K Williams to die from a substance overdose in 2021 entered a plea agreement on Wednesday, April 5.

Williams, 54, was discovered dead in his Brooklyn home on September 6, 2021. Investigators examined surveillance footage that showed Williams purchasing cocaine from Irvin Cartagena, 39, the drug dealer, the day before he died as per New York Post.

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Brooklyn drug dealer Irvin Cartagena

Federal prosecutors claim that on September 5, 2021, Irvin Cartagena, 39, executed a hand-to-hand drugs deal with Williams in South Williamsburg and pleaded guilty to one count of an attempt to sell heroin and fentanyl. As per CBS News, US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement, "Irvin Cartagena sold fentanyl-laced heroin in broad daylight in New York City, feeding addiction and causing the tragedy. In doing so, he dealt the fatal dose that killed Michael K. Williams."

Prosecutors claim that Cartagena was part of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) that was active in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn between August 2020 and February 2022. Despite learning that Williams had been discovered dead in his Williamsburg residence on September 6, the four-person gang persisted in selling their goods, per prosecutors who spoke out after the dealers were taken into custody.

The narcotics ring that Cartagena was a part of specialized in selling fentanyl and heroin-laced fentanyl outside of their location, where Cartagena, also known as 'Green Eyes', reportedly met Williams on September 5, 2021, to sell him the drugs. Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opiate that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. When used in excessive amounts or when combined with other drugs, it is considered to be fatal.

Cartagena and three other men were detained in connection with the death of Williams in February 2022. According to the prosecution, Cartagena might get a mandatory minimum term of five years in imprisonment and a maximum penalty of 40 years.

Michael K Williams' death

Williams, born and raised in Brooklyn, received praise for his portrayal of the armed robber Omar Little in the hit series 'The Wire' from 2002 to 2008. On September 6, 2021, his nephew discovered the actor lying face down and unresponsive in the living room of his Williamsburg residence. Medics arrived immediately and pronounced him dead.

Williams left Manhattan on September 5 for Williamsburg, as per the Daily Beast's research into his final day of life. He was captured on surveillance footage approaching the street where Cartagena and his friends reportedly operated their drug trafficking business.

Williams gave a man a handful of cash, and Cartagena was seen counting the dollars before getting a paper bag hidden next to a blue recycling bin outside the flat. According to the prosecution, Williams received the fentanyl-laced heroin from Cartagena at that time, which would later lead to his death.

Michael Kenneth Williams as Omar Little in 'The Wire' (2002) (IMDb)
Michael Kenneth Williams as Omar Little in 'The Wire' (2002) (IMDb)

Following 'Boardwalk Empire', in which he played racketeer Chalky White, the Emmy-nominated actor went on to make appearances in several more HBO projects.

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