A man accused of selling the drugs to Michael K. Williams that resulted in the actor's overdose death has pleaded guilty.
Irvin Cartagena pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogue, a charge that carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, the Southern District of New York announced. Prosecutors said the 39-year-old distributed the fentanyl-laced heroin that led to the actor's death.
"Irvin Cartagena sold fentanyl-laced heroin in broad daylight in New York City, feeding addiction and causing tragedy," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. "In doing so, he dealt the fatal dose that killed Michael K. Williams."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Williams, best known for his role as Omar Little on The Wire, was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment in September 2021. Five months later, four defendants were arrested in connection with his death, including Cartagena. Hector Robles, Luis Cruz, and Carlos Macci were also arrested as alleged co-conspirators. Macci pleaded guilty Tuesday to narcotics conspiracy, but Robles and Cruz have both pleaded not guilty, according to The New York Times.
Prosecutors said that even though they knew Williams died after he was sold their drugs, Cartagena and his co-conspirators continued selling the fentanyl-laced heroin. "This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable the dealers who push this poison, exploit addiction, and cause senseless death in our community," Williams said. Cartagena faces up to 40 years in prison.
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
Crossword: October 26, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Hungary’s Krasznahorkai wins Nobel for literatureSpeed Read László Krasznahorkai is the author of acclaimed novels like ‘The Melancholy of Resistance’ and ‘Satantango’
-
Primatologist Jane Goodall dies at 91Speed Read She rose to fame following her groundbreaking field research with chimpanzees
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
