Saint Louis City Man Charged with Federal Drug and Firearms Charges

St. Louis – Markquis Bryant, aka “Two,” 48, of Saint Louis, MO, was charged by a federal complaint with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; being a felon in possession of one or more firearms; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Bryant will appear in court on March 27, 2020 for his initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Nannette A. Baker.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators with the Florissant Police Department’s Anti-Crime Unit began an investigation into a fatal narcotics overdose which occurred on March 7, 2020.  The investigators were able to determine that the victim had purchased illegal narcotics from Markquis Bryant on March 6, 2020.  During the week of March 9, 2020, investigators conducted an undercover operation where an amount of suspected heroin and/or fentanyl was purchased from Bryant at his residence in the 5300 block of Queens Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.  On March 26, 2020, a federal search warrant was executed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Florissant Police Department, with assistance from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, at that same residence.  While executing the search warrant, law enforcement located five (5) firearms, including an AR-15 style pistol, a Glock .40 caliber firearm, and a Tech- 9 .9 mm firearm, as well as ounce quantities of suspected heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine.  Law enforcement also seized an extended firearm magazine, pill press, multiple scales and blenders with residue.  Markquis Bryant has prior criminal convictions for Murder First Degree, Assault First Degree and Armed Criminal Action from 1990.  He also has prior criminal convictions for Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2009, and Assault in the Second Degree and Armed Criminal Action in 2011.

“We appreciate these continued, proactive law enforcement efforts despite the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen.

Bryant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

These charges are the result of a joint investigation by the Florissant, Missouri Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Yemm is handling the case for the United States Attorney’s Office.