This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
On September 5, 2019, NBC News reported that federal prosecutors had charged a California man in connection to rapper Mac Miller's overdose death in September 2018.
According to a criminal complaint cited by NBC, Cameron James Pettit allegedly gave Miller counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl in the days leading up to his death.
Miller, whose legal name was Malcolm McCormick, was a widely-loved figure in the hip-hop community. He had gained steady traction throughout his career, releasing five full-length albums and 13 mixtapes.
Miller's death was a shock to the music world, with many artists paying tribute to him, including Ty Dolla $ign, Childish Gambino, and Ariana Grande. A star-studded tribute concert was held last November, featuring Travis Scott, Chance the Rapper, SZA, and many more.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl-related overdoses have been on the rise since 2012.
