Analysis: Four Charged with Killing Michael K. Williams Now Cartagena Gets 10 Years, Nephew Q&A Afterward - and Mag Court case just before

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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack

SDNY COURTROOM, Aug 18 – The four defendants detained for the death of Michael K. Williams were presented in court on August 12, 2022. Inner City Press was the only media in the courtroom.  And see Aug 18 video Q&A here

 On August 12, 2022 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Ronnie Abrams held an in-person proceeding. Inner City Press went and covered it.

There were four defense lawyers, and three of the defendants.

  It was said that one of the defense lawyers could not start a trial earlier than July 15, 2023. Judge Abrams said that was too slow, and defendants nodded. One of them was resisting wearing his COVID mask.  

 A trial date of May 15, 2023 was selected. Then the three defendant, in yellow prison jumpsuits, were led to the elevators of 40 Foley Square.

Previously SDNY said IRVIN CARTAGENA, a/k/a “Green Eyes,” was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed yesterday in Manhattan federal court with a narcotics conspiracy in which he distributed the fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in the death of Michael K. Williams.  In another criminal complaint unsealed today, co-conspirators HECTOR ROBLES, a/k/a “Oreja,” LUIS CRUZ, a/k/a “Mostro,” and CARLOS MACCI, a/k/a “Carlito,” were charged as members of the fentanyl and heroin conspiracy.  CARTAGENA was arrested in Puerto Rico yesterday and is expected to be presented tomorrow in federal court in Puerto Rico.  ROBLES, CRUZ, and MACCI were arrested. 

On August 11, 2023, the US Attorney's Office asked Judge Abrams on August 18 to sentence Cartagena to 180 months, or "to the extent the Court is inclined to sentence lower, the Government respectfully submits that such a term should be no less than 144 months."

On August 18, 2023, Cartagena was sentenced to 120 months, or ten years. He was taken down in the 40 Foley Square elevators by U.S. Marshals, followed in another elevator car by Williams' nephew Dominic Dupont. Inner City Press went down to Foley Square, too, and asked Dupont what he thought of the sentence. He replied, among other things, There are no winners here today. Video here

More analysis below the fold / paywall line here