A drifter who was convicted in 2005 of killing a Toledo limousine driver during a robbery in a motel room has been charged in Kentucky in the death of one of his accused accomplices in the crime.

Earnest Otto Smith, 49, was convicted in September, 2005 of aggravated robbery and aggravated murder in the Jan. 3, 2005 fatal shooting of James Dillingham, 48, at the Crown Inn, 1727 West Alexis Rd.

He is serving a sentence of 31 years to life in prison.

Authorities believe Mr. Dillingham was killed when Smith, who posed as an undercover police officer, went to the motel with two others, including Cathy Barnett, to rob him of drugs and money. Mr. Dillingham, who was a limousine driver, was found outside Room 25 of the motel. He was shot once in the chest.

Dennis Smith of Toledo, the second accomplice, pleaded no contest in the case to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. 

Ms. Barnett of Toledo also was charged with robbery and aggravated murder, but she was never located. 

Thursday, Smith was charged in federal court in Louisville with murder. A statement from the U.S. Department of Justice said the Federal Bureau of Investigation believes Smith killed Ms. Barnett on the grounds of Fort Knox Military Base on or about Jan. 7, 2005, which would have been just days after the Toledo motel killing.

Details of the FBI’s investigation, including whether or where authorities found Ms. Barnett’s body and what evidence led them to Smith, were unavailable Thursday night.

Smith remains in a prison in Ely, Nev., the Justice Department statement said. 

If he’s convicted of the new charges he faces a mandatory life sentence and a fine of $250,000, the statement said.

First Published November 13, 2015, 1:35 a.m.