The ongoing investigation into the death of acclaimed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has led to the arrest of his alleged heroin dealers. Police arrested the four dealers, recovering over 300 packets of heroin.
The Wall Street Journal reports that authorities were tipped off by a confidential informant that Hoffman may have purchased heroin at 302 Mott St. in New York City's Nolita district.
With warrants, police searched apartments in the Mott St. building on Tuesday night, and confiscated the packets of heroin as well as smaller amounts of cocaine and prescription pills.
The NY Daily News reports that three of those arrested lived in the building. Only Thomas Cushman, 48, did not, unlike his three accomplices, identified as Robert Vineberg, 57, Juliana Luchkiw, 22, and Max Rosenblum, 22.
Police are currently trying to determine if they sold heroin directly to the Oscar-winning actor, or if they were acting as part of a larger drug ring. Their current charges include criminal use of paraphernalia and criminal use of a controlled substance. They are awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.
The arrests come in the wake of Hoffman's death on Sunday. The acclaimed character actor was found in the bathroom of his West Village apartment. His discovery has led to a series of revelations on his worsening heroin addiction and efforts to seek help.