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Celebrity

03rd Feb 2022

Four men charged over death of The Wire actor Michael K. Williams

Ellen Fitzpatrick

He died back in September.

Four men have been charged in relation to the death of The Wire actor Michael K. Williams, according to New York prosecutors.

The actor, best known for his role as Omar Little on the hit television series, died of an accidental drug overdose in September of last year.

The 54 year old was found dead in his apartment in New York.

The four men have now been charged with conspiracy to distribute the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said in a statement.

The prosecutor named the four men as Irvin Cartagena, Hector Robles, Luis Cruz and Carlos Macci.

Cartagena allegedly sold Williams the dose that killed him and faces up to a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life if convicted, said attorney Damian Williams.

According to the New York chief medical examiner, the critically acclaimed actor died of “acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin and cocaine.”

Williams was praised for his role on The Wire where he played a gay armed robber who specialised in holding up drug dealers. He was also known for his role on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire where he played Albert “Chalky” White.

The actor had openly spoken about his drug addiction in the past, telling US media that he had spent most of his paycheck from The Wire on drugs.