Drug dealer becomes 12th inmate executed under Trump’s watch

RICHMOND, Va. — It was one of the worst bursts of gang violence Richmond had ever seen. At least 11 people were killed in a 45-day period in 1992, all at the hands of gang members who eliminated anyone they thought would get in the way of their growing crack cocaine business.

Corey Johnson, who was sentenced to death in connection with seven of the slayings, was right in the thick of it as one of the leaders of the Newtowne gang. He and two other members were sentenced to death under a federal law that targets large-scale drug traffickers.

Johnson, 52, on Thursday became the 12th inmate put to death at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., since the Trump administration restarted federal executions following a 17-year hiatus.

He was pronounced dead at 11:34 p.m.

When he was asked if he had any last words, Johnson appeared surprised and distracted, focusing on a room to his left designated for members of his family. Still, glancing around, he responded to the question, “No. I’m OK.” Several seconds later, he said softly while gazing intently at same room, “Love you.”

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., had halted the execution and Friday’s scheduled execution of Dustin Higgs because both men tested positive last month for COVID-19, but a federal appeals court late Wednesday lifted the injunction. Additional appeals were filed during the day, including emergency motions with the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the execution, but the high court denied the applications.

Johnson’s execution and Friday’s scheduled execution of Dustin Higgs are the last before next week’s inauguration of Presidentelect Joe Biden, who opposes the federal death penalty and has signaled he’ll end its use.

Lawyers for both inmates argued that lung damage from the coronavirus makes it more likely they’ll suffer excruciating pain from a lethal injection of pentobarbital. Johnson’s lawyers also argued he is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible to be put to death, under both federal law and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Prosecutors, however, said Johnson had not shown that he was mentally disabled.

In their clemency petition, Johnson’s lawyers asked President Donald Trump to commute his death sentence to life in prison.