NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A former member of the U.S. Air Force said he would not oppose being transferred to Washington to face charges related to a fatal 2005 gang initiation.
Rico R. Williams agreed in federal court in Virginia to have his murder trial transferred to U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot said Thursday.
Williams, 31, is accused of taking part in the death of U.S. Army Sgt. Juwan Johnson, who allegedly died in June 2005 while being initiated into a gang in Germany.
Johnson, 25, allegedly was to be initiated into a Gangster Disciples faction by enduring a six-minute-long beating in Hohenecken, Germany.
The FBI says so-called beat-downs are regular initiation methods used by the gang that initially originated in Chicago. Williams is charged with throwing the first two blows during the deadly beating and with leading the German faction of the violent gang.
The Virginian-Pilot said Williams faces charges of murder, aiding and abetting and tampering with a witness once he is transferred to Washington for trial.
