One of three drug dealers who supplied the late rapper Mac Miller with fentanyl-laced pills, leading to his overdose death at the age of 26, has been sentenced to 10 years and 11 months in prison for his role in the crime.
In 2018, Malcolm McCormack was found dead at his Studio City, California home in what was later revealed to be an accidental overdose. The L.A. Department of the Medical Examiner confirmed he died from an accidental overdose due to a lethal combination of alcohol, cocaine and fentanyl that was laced in the drugs.
Ryan Reavis, 39, pleaded guilty in November of 2021 to one federal count of distributing fentanyl and requested a sentence of five years. He claimed to be a “middle man” that wasn’t aware of fentanyl in the pills he was selling the rapper, but several text messages read aloud in court from Reavis’ phone reportedly indicated that he was aware of fentanyl-laced drugs in the area.
According to the indictment, prosecutors accused Reavis of delivering fentanyl-laced pills obtained by Stephen Walter, 48, to the one who ordered them, Cameron Pettit, 30. Pettit then made the sale to Miller, who overdosed two days later. Walter admitted to his alleged role in selling the pills to Reavis in a guilty plea last year and is still awaiting a sentence. Petit pleaded not guilty and his case is ongoing.
The most emotional moment of the sentencing was when Miller’s mother, Karen Meyers spoke. She said “Malcolm was my person, more than a son. We had a bond and kinship that was deep and special and irreplaceable. We spoke nearly every day about everything – his life, plans, music, dreams.” Meyers also mentioned that despite his known issues with addiction, Miller “would never knowingly take a pill with fentanyl. He wanted to live and was excited about the future.”
Reavis also expressed his regret for the pain he caused Miller’s family during his sentencing. “I know that whatever happens, I’m the lucky one because my family is here and I’m here and I’ll be with them again. I feel terrible. This is not who I am. My perspective has changed. My heart has changed.”
Miller was reaching a new height of recognition for his music work when the sudden death occurred. He was posthumously nominated for a Grammy in 2018 for his album Swimming, which he was in the middle of promoting when he passed. His final studio album Circles was released in 2020 to critical acclaim after production on it was completed by the co-producer of Swimming, Jon Brion.
