Roanoke Dealer Gets 12.5 Years in Drug-Fueled Murder Plot

ROANOKE, VA – A Roanoke man is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars for his role in a brutal drug-fueled robbery that escalated into murder. Garrett Isaac Williams, 22, was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, stemming from the death of a marijuana supplier known only as E.B.

The case, laid bare in court documents, reveals a descent into debt and desperation. Beginning in January 2023, Williams and his co-defendant, Joseph Walker, built a marijuana distribution network, sourcing product from E.B., who regularly drove from Pennsylvania to Roanoke. When the pair couldn’t pay their bills, a careless phone call – E.B. accidentally dialed Walker’s mother – triggered a chilling plan: not to settle the debt, but to steal the next shipment.

On April 17, 2023, E.B. arrived at Walker’s residence with approximately 10 pounds of marijuana and two pounds of marijuana wax, a deal Williams helped facilitate. Williams acted as a lookout, keeping E.B. updated on Walker’s movements. Walker, meanwhile, was armed – concealing a Sig Sauer, .45 caliber pistol with the intent to use it during the robbery. Confrontation quickly turned deadly. Walker shot E.B. twice, killing him instantly.

But the crime didn’t end there. Walker, following the pre-arranged plan, stole the marijuana. Then, in a desperate attempt to cover his tracks, he moved E.B.’s body to the trunk of his car and drove to Bedford County, Virginia, where he set the vehicle ablaze. While Williams wasn’t present for the actual shooting, he admitted to actively planning the robbery and anticipating the use of force.

Joseph Walker, Williams’ accomplice, received an even harsher sentence in April: 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI, Virginia State Police, and numerous other agencies, including the US Marshals and ATF, highlights the escalating violence tied to drug trafficking in the region.

U.S. Attorney C. Todd Gilbert emphasized that this case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative aimed at dismantling cartels and protecting communities from violent crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Coleman Adams, Kelly McGann, and Drew O. Inman are prosecuting the case, signaling a continued crackdown on drug-related violence in the Western District of Virginia. The Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force also contributed to the investigation.