Man arrested in connection with Mac Miller’s fake opioid death

A man has been arrested on suspicion of supplying the counterfeit opioid pills that caused the death of US rapper Mac Miller at the age of 26 last year.

Cameron James Pettit (28) of Hollywood Hills was taken into custody yesterday almost exactly a year after Miller died at his home in Studio City, Los Angeles, from a suspected drug overdose. He has been charged with distribution of a controlled substance.

The criminal complaint filed by prosecutors claims Pettit supplied Miller – whose real name was Malcolm James McCormick – with counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl prior to the singer’s death due to “a mixed drug toxicity involving fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol.”

“Law enforcement found evidence that McCormick snorted counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl shortly before his death,” it continues.

Fake opioid pills laced with fentanyl are also thought to be behind the deaths of other celebrities including Prince and Lil Peep, as well as the near-death overdose of Demi Lovato. Meanwhile, fentanyl was also found to have contributed to the deaths of Tom Petty and Michael Jackson.

Law enforcement also seized Pettit’s cell phone and found messages between him and Miller as well as with Mia Johansson – an alleged accomplice and madam who is accused of arranging for drugs to be delivered to Miller by a prostitute, that link him to the supply of the counterfeit pills.

Furthermore, messages with two unidentified Instagram users also suggest Pettit was concerned he may face criminal actions in connection with Miller’s death. In one he says: “Most likely I will die in jail.” In another he suggests he needs to go “off grid”, move to another country and change his name.

“Fentanyl disguised as a genuine pharmaceutical is a killer – which is being proven every day in America,” said US Attorney Nick Hanna in a statement.

“Drugs laced with cheap and potent fentanyl are increasingly common, and we owe it to the victims and their families to aggressively target the drug dealers that cause these overdose deaths.”

If convicted, Pettit could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.