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A man connected to the death ofMichael K. Williamshas been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.
In addition to the prison sentence, 72-year-old Carlos Macci was ordered to serve three years of supervised release, with the first year in an inpatient drug treatment facility,according to NBC News.
The sentence comes nearly two years after Williams, who was 54 years old at the time of his death, was discovered dead from anaccidental fentanyl overdosein his Brooklyn apartment on Sept. 6, 2021.
Macci was one of four menwho were part of an alleged drug-trafficking organizationknown as the DTO that wasarrested and chargedwith conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl analogue, fentanyl, and heroin.
Like Macci, the group – which reportedly includesIrvin Cartagena, Hector Robles, and Luis Cruz – have all taken guilty pleas, per theNew York Post. The outlet reports that Cartagena is the next to be sentenced on Aug. 18, while Robles and Cruz are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 26.
While prosecutors sought for Macci to receive at least a 4-year sentence,perThe New York Times,The Wirecreator David Simon had pleaded for Macci to receive a lighter sentence during his trial.
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Citing Macci’s own trouble with addiction, he wrote in a 3-page letter,according to NBC News, “No possible good can come from incarcerating a (72-year-old) soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction and who has not engaged in street-level sales of narcotics with ambitions of success and profit but rather as someone caught up in the diaspora of addiction himself.”
While U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams acknowledged Macci’s history, she told Macci in court that selling drugs “not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but it’s costing you your freedom."
“I would like to say, your honor, I’m sorry for what has happened,” Macci said, according to theAssociated Press.
Deadlinereports Dominic Dupont, Williams' nephew, said during Macci’s sentencing how “It weighs heavy on me to see someone be in a situation he’s in. I understand what it is to be system impacted.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
