Drug dealer in crew blamed for actor Michael K. Williams' overdose death gets 5 years in prison
Michael K. Williams arrives at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. A member of a New York City drug-dealing crew blamed for the 2021 fentanyl-laced heroin death of Williams was sentenced Tuesday to 5 years in prison. Credit: Invision / AP / Evan Agostini
A member of a New York City drug-dealing crew blamed for the fentanyl-laced heroin death of actor Michael K. Williams was sentenced Tuesday to 5 years in prison.
Luis Cruz was the third of four defendants to be sentenced in connection with the drugs linked to the death of Williams, who overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021. He died four hours after authorities said he bought the heroin from another member of the crew.
A federal judge in Manhattan imposed the prison time on Cruz, who pleaded guilty in April to a reduced charge of narcotics conspiracy.
Cruz's lawyer, Deborah Colson, said in an email that Cruz “accepted responsibility and provided a genuine, heartfelt apology.” She declined to comment further.
Federal prosecutors, however, said Cruz and the drug crew kept selling the fentanyl-laced heroin even after Williams' death.
Williams, who was 54, was known for portraying 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.”
The drug crew member who sold the drugs to Williams, Irvin Cartagena, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in August. Another crew member got more than 2 years in prison, and the fourth person awaits sentencing.
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