Mac Miller death: Man charged for ‘selling fake opioids to rapper days before fatal overdose’
Miller was found dead by his assistant at his San Fernando Valley home in September last year
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man has been arrested and charged with selling counterfeit opioid pills to Mac Miller, two days before the rapper died of an overdose.
Cameron James Pettit, 23, who lives in the Hollywood Hills, is expected to appear in court later on Wednesday, federal prosecutors said in a statement.
26-year-old Miller was found dead by his assistant at his San Fernando Valley home on 7 September, 2018.
A Drug Enforcement Agency affidavit claims that Miller asked Pettit for oxycodone and other drugs, but on 5 September, 2018, Pettit allegedly gave Miller counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with the powerful opioid fentanyl.
A post-mortem examination found that Miller died from an accidental overdose, via a combination of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.
Authorities found drugs they claim were from Pettit in Miller’s home, and evidence that Miller had allegedly crushed and sniffed oxycodone provided by Pettit.
Pettit has only been charged with providing the drugs, however, and not with having a direct role in Miller’s death.
According to the affidavit, after reports of Miller’s death circulated, Pettit allegedly sent an Instagram message to a friend saying, “Most likely I will die in jail”.
Investigators say they also obtained text messages between Miller and Pettit before the sale, in which Miller proclaims his love for oxycodone, or “percs” for the brand name Percocet, and also asks for “bars” of Xanax and a “ball” of cocaine.
“When can u get em?” Miller asks, according to a transcript of the exchange contained in court filings.
“Probably in an hour or 2. They are 30 ea,” Pettit replies.
“Any chance I can get 10 of those, 10 bars and a ball?” Miller asks.
“Yeah for sure,” Pettit replies.
Miller, a Pittsburgh native whose work brought him wide respect in the hip-hop community, was in a two-year relationship with Ariana Grande that ended earlier in 2018.
He was one of a number of artists whose death has been linked in recent years to a national wave of opioid abuse and overdoses. Prince died in 2016 when he took counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl that looked like a generic version of the painkiller Vicodin.
Matthew Roberts, guitarist for the band 3 Doors Down, also died of an overdose in 2016, and had fentanyl and hydrocodone in his system.
Additional reporting by agencies