Drug Dealer Gets 10 Years Behind Bars For Supplying “Omar” From The Wire
A New York City narcotics seller was sentenced on Friday (August 18) to a 10-year prison term for supplying fentanyl-spiked heroin to actor Michael K. Williams, known for his role in The Wire, resulting in his death.
Irvin Cartagena, aged 40, from Aibonito, Puerto Rico, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. In April, Cartagena had entered a guilty plea for his involvement in drug distribution conspiracy.
In September 2021, Williams suffered a drug overdose in his penthouse residence in Brooklyn. He passed away shortly after reportedly purchasing heroin from Cartagena on a Brooklyn Williamsburg sidewalk, an event captured by a surveillance camera.
Williams achieved fame for his portrayal of Omar Little, a renegade robber of drug dealers, in HBO’s The Wire series that aired from 2002 to 2008. Apart from his acclaimed work on the show, Williams also featured in movies and other television productions like Boardwalk Empire.
Cartagena faced a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a potential maximum of 40 years of incarceration.
“I deeply regret my actions,” he expressed prior to the sentencing. “Our intent was never for someone to lose their life when we sold the drugs.”
Judge Abrams mentioned that individuals who knew Cartagena described him as “helpful, humble, and industrious” when he wasn’t using drugs.
“I’m optimistic that therapy will aid you in moving towards a more constructive and lawful path,” the judge stated.
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U.S. Attorney Damian Williams remarked in a statement that those involved in selling drugs to Williams were already aware of a previous death caused by the drugs they were peddling.
Prosecutors asserted that Cartagena and associates continued selling fentanyl-laced heroin in Manhattan and Brooklyn even after Williams’ passing. Eventually, Cartagena fled to Puerto Rico, where he was apprehended in February 2022.
In a pre-sentencing defense submission, Cartagena’s attorney, Sean Maher, disclosed that his client received compensation for his drug sales to fuel his own addiction.
“In a tragic moment, Mr. Cartagena was the individual who handed the small packet of drugs to Mr. Williams. It could have easily been any of the other men present, selling the same substances,” Maher wrote. “Sentencing Mr. Cartagena to a lengthy prison term won’t restore the precious life that was lost.”
Prosecutors, in their pre-sentence submission, requested a sentence of at least 12 years, while the court’s Probation Department advised a 20-year term, citing Cartagena’s 14 prior convictions related to drug offenses, including burglary, robbery, and escape from prison.
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