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The federal government will help the Carver County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota investigate the death of Prince, pictured Nov. 8, 2010. Getty Images

As the Carver County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota continues to investigate the death of performer Prince, it will be aided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Minnesota reporter Courtney Godfrey tweeted. She shared a screenshot of a sheriff’s office statement on her verified Twitter account Wednesday.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and DEA are joining the Carver County Sheriff’s investigation. The DEA and U.S. Attorney’s Office are able to augment this local investigation with federal resources and expertise about prescription drug diversion,” the statement said. “While this remains an ongoing investigation, we will have no further comment.”

Prince died April 21 at the age of 57. He reportedly had the prescription painkiller Percocet on him when he was found unconscious in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate.

Prince reportedly struggled with an addiction to painkillers and cocaine. The week of his death, he went to several local pharmacies to fill prescriptions, TMZ wrote Friday. He also might have “doctor shopped,” or used different names so he could get prescriptions for controlled substances.

Some have likened Prince’s death to that of Michael Jackson, who died in 2009 from cardiac arrest caused by propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, was friends with the star and administered the general anesthetic, even though it wasn’t medically necessary. It is suspected that Prince had a “friendly” doctor who overprescribed him painkillers.

In a different twist, controversial singer Sinéad O’Connor accused talk show host Arsenio Hall of supplying Prince with drugs in a Facebook rant Monday. “Two words for the DEA investigating where prince got his drugs over the decades ... Arsenio Hall (AKA Prince’s and Eddie Murphy’s b----),” she wrote. “Anyone imagining prince was not a long time hard drug user is living in cloud cuckoo land. Arsenio I’ve reported you to the Carver County Sheriff’s office. Expect their call. They are aware you spiked me years ago at Eddie murphy’s house. You bet get tidying your man cave.” Hall’s rep denied the accusation.

A public memorial will be held for the “Purple Rain” singer at Los Angeles City Hall Friday.

Follow me on Twitter @mariamzzarella

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