COLUMBUS, OH — A Columbus man was sentenced on July 1 to three consecutive life sentences plus 60 additional months in federal prison for murdering three people as part of a drug-related conspiracy and directing others to dismember and bury two of the victims to conceal the crimes.
Larry J. Williams Jr., 44, also known as “J Streets” and “J,” was found guilty in December 2024 on all 16 counts in a second superseding indictment. U.S. District Court also imposed five additional life sentences to run concurrently.
According to court records and trial testimony, Williams led a 2018 narcotics conspiracy aimed at robbing a marijuana dealer in Columbus. During the armed robbery at 847 E.N. Broadway on June 27, 2018, Williams fatally shot 23-year-old Connor Reynolds. Two months later, Williams murdered Henry Watson, 52, and Tera Pennington, 48, to prevent them from speaking to law enforcement.
Williams ordered co-conspirators to clean the crime scene and dismember the bodies of Watson and Pennington. The remains were buried in the basement of a home on Sullivant Avenue, where the floor was jackhammered and later sealed with fresh concrete.
Authorities said Williams operated a drug house at 121 Stevens Avenue, where he sold fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Multiple overdoses occurred on-site, and co-conspirators reportedly used Narcan to revive drug users.
A total of 13 individuals have been convicted in the case. One co-defendant, Patrick Foster, 41, was sentenced the same day to 70 months in prison for assisting in the disposal of the bodies.
“This case underscores the systemic violence and death that occurs when drug traffickers operate in our communities,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey.
The investigation was led by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the Columbus Police, with prosecution by federal authorities.
