CINCINNATI — A 19-year-old Xenia man is in federal custody on a charge of murder in the Jan. 21 shooting of a man in Wilmington during a drug deal.
Joshua Cordell Lee Williams was formally charged in a federal indictment Tuesday in relation to firearms and drugs charges stemming from the homicide in Clinton County. Specifically, he is charged with firearms-related murder and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents, Williams met with four individuals in Wilmington to sell them marijuana. The individuals had intended to take the marijuana without paying. A struggle ensued and Williams, who had a firearm, shot 23-year-old Layne Hall in the chest and killed him.
“Far too often, the combination of drug transactions and firearms results in death. As alleged, this case involves a fatal shooting over a few pounds of marijuana,” David M. DeVillers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said Tuesday. “This case – the first ever federal murder case in Cincinnati – highlights this office’s emphasis on combating violent crime.”
“This office, in partnership with local county prosecutors’ offices, has initiated a multi-pronged attack on violent crime. We are concentrating on long-term historical investigations into violent organized crime and at the same time devoting resources to current, ongoing crimes perpetrated by the most violent in our community. Expect more to come.”
If convicted, Williams could be sentenced to life in prison. He is to remain in custody pending trial.
On July 2, Williams rejected a plea deal in Clinton County Common Pleas Court and was scheduled for trial there on July 28.
The three other men authorities said were involved in the fatal shooting of Hall remain in the Clinton County Jail.
Christian Terry, 22, Kevin Lane Noe Jr., 21, and Corey Ruffner, 22, and Hall rode together to Wilmington for the drug deal that ended in Hall’s death, according to the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office. They were to meet someone at the Brownberry Apartments. They were met there by Williams.
According to the court documents, Hall’s death would not have occurred if the four of them had not taken part in initiating an alleged robbery of Williams.
Cox Media Group
