Who is Luis Cruz? Third man involved in Michael K Williams' death gets 5 years in prison, apologizes for 'terrible mistake'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Luis Cruz, a third man involved in the drug-dealing operation linked to the death of Michael K Williams on September 6, 2021, has been sentenced to five years in prison, reports People.
Cruz was among the four defendants associated with the distribution of fentanyl-laced heroin that led to 'The Wire' actor's fatal overdose at his penthouse in Brooklyn, New York.
Williams, who was 54, died four hours after he bought the heroin from another crew member named Irvin Cartagena on a sidewalk in Williamsburg.
What are the charges against Luis Cruz?
Cruz, a former electrician who had earlier confessed to a reduced charge of narcotics conspiracy in April, received his sentence from a Manhattan federal judge, according to NBC New York.
In response to the sentencing, Cruz's attorney Deborah Colson stated that the defendant said he "accepted responsibility and provided a genuine, heartfelt apology."
Cruz wrote "it was a terrible mistake in judgment" in a letter to the judge, explaining that he was a drug addict and dealt drugs to fund his addiction, per NBC New York.
The prosecution alleged that Cruz and the other members of the drug-dealing crew continued selling heroin mixed with fentanyl even after William's death.
Law enforcement authorities stated that they found over 500 bags of the dangerous substance along with drug paraphernalia within Cruz's department.
Who are the other four defendants involved in Michael K Williams' death?
In September, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced that 40-year-old Cartagena was sentenced to 10 years in prison with five years of supervised release for conspiring in the distribution of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.
Carlos Macci, 72, was sentenced to 2.5 years behind the bars in July plus three years of supervised release.
Macci and three other individuals were part of an alleged drug-trafficking group DTO before facing multiple charges of conspiring in the distribution and possession of fentanyl analogue, fentanyl, and heroin.
Macci wrote a three-page letter to the judge expressing his remorse. He wrote, "No possible good can come from incarcerating a (72-year-old) soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction and who has not engaged in street-level sales of narcotics with ambitions of success and profit but rather as someone caught up in the diaspora of addiction himself."
According to NBC News, despite acknowledging Macci's sentiments, US District Judge Ronnie Abrams told him in court that selling drugs "not only cost Mr Williams his life, but it’s costing you your freedom."
Macci then apologized in court as he said, "I would like to say, your honor, I’m sorry for what has happened."