CHARLESTON (AP) — A federal judge is keeping the death penalty in the case of an alleged West Virginia drug dealer accused of having an informant murdered.

U.S. District-t Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. has also refused to move the as-yet-unscheduled retrial of defendant George Lecco out of southern West Virginia.

Lecco is accused of ordering the 2005 slaying of 33-year-old Carla Collins to protect his Mingo County cocaine ring.

Co-defendant Valerie Friend pleaded guilty earlier this month to drug conspiracy and witness retaliation charges. She says Lecco targeted Collins because she was helping investigators.

The two had been found guilty in 2007. Those convictions were wiped out because of a juror's dishonesty during jury selection.