Dealer gets 10 years in prison in death of actor Michael K. Williams
CTV
A New York City drug dealer was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for providing "The Wire" actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death.
A New York City drug dealer was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for providing "The Wire" actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death.
Irvin Cartagena, 40, of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. Cartagena had pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to distribute drugs.
Williams overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021. He died hours after authorities said he bought the heroin from Cartagena on a sidewalk in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighbourhood in a deal recorded by a security camera.
Williams famously portrayed Omar Little, the rogue robber of drug dealers, in HBO's "The Wire," which ran from 2002 to 2008. In addition to his work on the critically acclaimed drama, Williams also starred in films and other TV series such as "Boardwalk Empire."
Cartagena faced a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could have faced up to 40 years behind bars.
"I am very sorry for my actions," he said before the sentence was announced. "When we sold the drugs, we never intended for anyone to lose their life."
Abrams noted that those who knew Cartagena said that he was "helpful and humble and hard working" when he was not using drugs himself.
