Inmate Charged with Murder at Federal Prison

CAMDEN, N.J. - An Inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, was charged with murdering another inmate, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

William Vontrail Johnson, 39, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was charged in a criminal complaint with murder. Johnson made an initial appearance on November 5, 2026 in Camden federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On March 4, 2025, Bureau of Prison officials found Johnson's cellmate unresponsive and lying in a pool of blood. The victim was not breathing and had no pulse. Upon discovering the victim, BOP officials immediately began lifesaving measures until the victim was transferred to the hospital. On March 5, 2025, the victim was pronounced dead. An autopsy was performed, and the Forensic Pathologist concluded that the victim had died from puncture wounds of the head, neck, and chest, and ruled that the manner of death was homicide.

During the investigation, FBI Special Agents interviewed Johnson. Johnson advised that, at first, Johnson tried to choke the victim to death. When Johnson felt that the victim was dead, Johnson let him go. When the victim began to breathe again, Johnson "tried to kill him in all kinds of ways," including using a pencil to stab the victim through the eye.

At the time of the murder, Johnson was serving a sentence for child sex trafficking imposed by the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

The single count of murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint against Johnson are merely accusations, and Johnson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to this charge. He also thanked the Bureau of Prisons, Special Investigation Services, for their valuable assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Richardson and Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Camden.

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Defense counsel: Megan Davies, Esq. Haddonfield, New Jersey and Rocco C. Cipparone, Jr., Esq., Haddon Heights, New Jersey