Vendor pleads responsible in overdose of Michael Okay. Williams, who performed Omar in ‘The Wire’

Irvin Cartagena’s plea to a cost of conspiring to distribute medicine was entered in Manhattan federal courtroom. Sentencing was set by U.S. District Decide Ronnie Abrams for Aug. 18, when Cartagena will face a compulsory minimal of 5 years in jail and the potential of as many as 40 years.

The famed actor, who additionally starred in movies and different TV collection together with “Boardwalk Empire,” overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse residence in September 2021. Authorities stated he died hours after buying the heroin from Cartagena on a Brooklyn sidewalk in a deal that was recorded by a safety digicam.

Cartagena, 39, signed a plea settlement with prosecutors stipulating that the combo of heroin and fentanyl he offered Williams resulted in his demise. His lawyer, Sean Maher, declined remark.

U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams, who just isn’t associated to the actor, stated in an announcement that the sale occurred in “broad daylight in New York Metropolis, feeding dependancy and inflicting tragedy.”

“In doing so, he dealt the deadly dose that killed Michael Okay. Williams,” Williams stated.

Prosecutors stated Cartagena and his alleged co-conspirators continued to promote fentanyl-laced heroin round residential residence buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan even after they discovered of the actor’s demise. One other defendant within the case pleaded responsible Tuesday.

Williams’ demise got here regardless of an investigation by the New York Police Division that positioned a paid informant making managed heroin buys on the identical block the place Williams purchased medicine.

The day after, the informant went again to purchase extra medicine from the identical group and recorded a dialog during which a few of them talked about Williams’ overdose. One denied promoting any medicine containing fentanyl.

Williams’ “stick-up boy” character Omar Little on “The Wire” — a fictionalized take a look at the underpinnings of Baltimore that resulted in 2008 however stays common in streaming — was based mostly on a real-life determine.

He created one other basic character as Chalky White in HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and likewise appeared in “12 Years a Slave,” “Murderer’s Creed” and different movies.

In interviews, Williams had spoken about his battles with dependancy.