Man faces drug charge in Mac Miller's death

A Hollywood Hills man was accused of selling rapper Mac Miller counterfeit drugs containing fentanyl two days before the death of the artist after a drug overdose last September, said Wednesday. federal prosecutors.

The suspect, Cameron James Pettit, 28, agreed to provide Miller with oxycodone tablets, cocaine and Xanax, according to the criminal complaint filed in the US District Court in Los Angeles . But, instead of providing authentic oxycodone, Mr. Pettit delivered the rapper 's counterfeit oxycodone, which contained fentanyl, a synthetic opioid estimated to be 50 times more potent than heroin, according to the complaint.

Two days later, on September 7, 2018, Mr. Miller passed away at his home in Studio City. Mr. Miller, who was born Malcolm James McCormick, had just released his fifth album entitled "Swimming" at his death.

The Medical Examiner-Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later determined that Mr. Miller had suffered an accidental lethal overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol. The investigators believe that the rapper died after snorting the counterfeit pills.

A few hours after the announcement of the rapper's death, Mr. Pettit sent a message to a friend saying, "I will most likely die in prison," according to the criminal complaint. if Mr. Pettit had retained the services of a lawyer.

If he is found guilty of drug trafficking, Mr. Pettit could be sentenced to a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.

Although another person also provided Mr. Miller with drugs prior to his death, according to the complaint, only Mr. Pettit is charged with providing him with fentanyl.

The involvement of fentanyl puts Mr. Miller in the company of other musicians such as Prince, Tom Petty and Lil Peep, all of whom died from an accidental drug overdose in recent years. A major component of the growing opiate crisis in the United States, fentanyl is often associated with black market supplies of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines.