Man arrested for allegedly selling Mac Miller fentanyl-laced pills before rapper's overdose death
The Drug Enforcement Administration arrested a California man Wednesday morning in connection with the fatal overdose of rapper Mac Miller last year.
Cameron James Pettit, 28, was arrested in his Los Angeles-area home by the DEA’s Fusion Task Force on federal charges that allege he “sold counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs containing fentanyl” to Miller two days before the musician died of a drug overdose, according to a news release from the agency. Pettit is set to appear at the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, according to the release.
Miller, born Malcolm McCormick, died Sept. 7 from an accidental overdose at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was 26. The coroner’s report found that Miller died from “mixed drug toxicity,” including ethanol, fentanyl, and cocaine.
In the press release, the DEA reported that Pettit agreed to supply Miller with “30-milligram oxycodone pills, as well as cocaine and the sedative Xanax,” but instead of supplying Miller with genuine oxycodone when he made the delivery on Sept 5, “Pettit allegedly sold McCormick counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin.”
During a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, DEA officials said the criminal complaint alleges that Pettit supplied drugs to Miller for several months, with the investigation revealing that Miller “snorted this fentanyl concoction” prior to his overdose death.” They noted that two other people also named in the complaint are also “allegedly responsible for supplying Miller with narcotics,” but are not currently being charged.
Although Pettit is only being charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance, he is not in the clear of other charges, including supplying drugs that led to a death, officials confirmed at the press conference. When asked about possible murder charges, officials said, “under federal law, there is a provision that would allow us to, in certain circumstances, to make an allegation that a drug dealer supplied narcotics that led to a death. That has not been alleged at this time. This is an ongoing investigation and that allegation could be added once we get to the time of indictment.”
Pettit made an appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday where he was not asked to enter a plea, but was ordered detained without bail pending trial, according to CBS Los Angeles. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 11, CBS Los Angeles reports.
If convicted of drug trafficking, Pettit could serve up to 20 years in federal prison.
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