Reasonover & Johnson: Guilty in Cocaine-Fueled Murder

ST. LOUIS, MO – Justice, however delayed, is coming for Antonio L. Jones. Marquis D. Reasonover, 42, of St. Louis City, and Hairl Johnson, 48, of Ferguson, have finally admitted their roles in his brutal death, pleading guilty to federal charges stemming from a drug-fueled conspiracy. The pair confessed to conspiring to distribute cocaine and heroin, and crucially, to using a firearm to commit murder during the course of their criminal enterprise.

The grim details, laid bare in court documents, paint a picture of cold-blooded calculation. On November 10, 2014, Reasonover and Johnson executed Jones in the basement of a Ferguson residence on Georgia Avenue. The motive? A dispute born from the dirty world of drug trafficking. Reasonover, the documents state, was the one who pulled the trigger, employing a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol to end Jones’ life.

But the horror didn’t end there. In a desperate attempt to cover their tracks, Reasonover and Johnson callously transported Jones’ body in the trunk of his own car across state lines to East St. Louis, Illinois. Once there, they doused the vehicle – and the man inside – in accelerant and set it ablaze, attempting to erase all evidence of their crime. The scene was a macabre testament to their willingness to go to any length to protect their operation.

Johnson entered his guilty plea on May 14, 2019, while Reasonover appeared before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber today to do the same. Each man now faces a substantial prison sentence. The drug conspiracy charge carries a maximum term of 20 years. More significantly, the firearm charge mandates a minimum of 10 years, with the potential for a life sentence. The judge will weigh these factors against U.S. Sentencing Guidelines when determining the final penalties.

The investigation, a multi-agency effort, was spearheaded by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Illinois State Police, and Wentzville Police Department, with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This wasn’t a solo operation; it took a coordinated push to bring these killers to justice.

The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force of the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri, successfully prosecuted the case. Sentencing for Johnson is scheduled for August 13, 2019, and Reasonover will face the judge on August 14, 2019. While prison bars won’t bring Jones back, it’s a small measure of closure for a family left shattered by greed and violence. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches.