Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles have charged a Hollywood Hills man in connection with the death of hip-hop rapper Mac Miller, who was discovered dead from a drug overdose nearly one year ago.
According to the federal criminal complaint unsealed on Wednesday, Cameron James Pettit, 23, was arrested by special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration's Fusion Task Force after he allegedly sold counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs that contained fentanyl to Miller, two days before the rapper's overdose. Pettit allegedly supplied Miler with counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
“Fentanyl disguised as a genuine pharmaceutical is a killer -- which is being proven every single day in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna. “We are aggressively targeting drug dealers responsible for trafficking illicit fentanyl, which has become the most deadly facet of the opioid epidemic. We are committed to slowing the number of overdose deaths and prosecuting those responsible for spreading this most dangerous opioid.”
Miller's body was discovered in his Studio City home on Sept. 7, with an autopsy later determining the 26-year-old had accidentally died from an overdose of alcohol, cocaine and fentanyl. Pettit is alleged to have sold Miller the fentanyl-laced pills that led to the rapper's death.
Instagram direct messages between Miller and Pettit were detailed in the criminal complaint, including one by Pettit sent hours after Miller's death that said, "I think I should probably not post anything ... just to be smart."
When asked in another text how he was doing, Pettit allegedly wrote, "I am not great ... Most likely I will die in jail."
Pettit is expected to make his first appearance in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles later Wednesday afternoon. If convicted, Pettit could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
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