Two Local Men Plead Guilty to Drug-Related Murder

St. Louis, MO – Marquis D. Reasonover, of St. Louis City, 42, and Hairl Johnson, 48, of Ferguson, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin and one count of using a firearm to commit murder in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Johnson pleaded guilty on May 14, 2019.  Reasonover appeared today before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber.

According to court documents, Reasonover and Johnson were part of a drug conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin in and around the St. Louis area.  On November 10, 2014, Reasonover and Johnson killed Antonio L. Jones in the basement of a residence on Georgia Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri.  The murder was the result of a drug-related dispute.  Reasonover shot Jones with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.  After the shooting, Jones’ body was transported in the trunk of his own vehicle to East St. Louis, Illinois.  Once in East Saint Louis, the car was set on fire with victim Jones’ body inside.

Under the drug conspiracy count, the maximum term of punishment is 20 years in prison.  Under the firearm count, the statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment is 10 years up to life in prison.  In determining actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines which provide recommended sentencing ranges. The sentencings for Johnson and Reasonover have been set for August 13 and 14, 2019, respectively.

This case was investigated by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Illinois State Police, and Wentzville Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case was prosecuted by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force of the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri.