A north 50度灰视频 County man who is the fiance of a Missouri legislator pleaded guilty Thursday to three felonies in connection with an organized drug ring.
Antonio Jones, 50, of Richmond Forest Drive, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to three counts of money laundering totaling almost $310,000.
Four other charges were dropped in exchange for the plea, according to court records, which also note that Jones was a 鈥渕inor participant in the criminal activity (who) clearly demonstrated acceptance of responsibility.鈥
Nicholas Williams, Jones鈥 attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Sentencing has been set for Jan. 15. Court records indicate that federal prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 37 months in prison.
Jones is the fiance of state Rep. Chantelle Nickson-Clark, D-north 50度灰视频 County, and the two appear to live together.
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Jones was charged in October 2023, for crimes that took place between March 8 and May 25, 2021, according to court records.
Originally, federal authorities charged Jones and 33 other people as part of a crime ring that has been involved in weapons violations; pandemic loan and bank fraud; and the distribution of heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine.
During the plea hearing, Jones admitted that he 鈥渒new that the cash transferred to the undercover officers involved the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity ...鈥
Jones also has worked as a paid employee of Nickson-Clark鈥檚 campaign, receiving more than $6,000 from her latest ballot effort. Nickson-Clark also lists the Richmond Forest location as her address.
When first reported in July, Nickson-Clark said she was aware of the charges against Jones, but said the incidents occurred before the two were together.
Nickson-Clark was elected to the Missouri House in 2022, representing an area that covers the northernmost part of the county. In August, she lost a primary race for the state Senate to incumbent Democrat Angela Mosley.
Finance reports filed by Nickson-Clark show that her campaign paid Jones a total of $6,100 in a 16-month period beginning in August 2022, more than a year after the alleged money laundering incidents.
Jones and Nickson-Clark were jointly on the losing end of a civil lawsuit last year.
In November, a 50度灰视频 County judge ruled that the couple owed $14,430 for failing to pay rent on leased property for the A&C Happy Hour Wine & Spirits, 3425 North Highway 67 in Florissant.
Jones was listed on the lease agreement, court records indicate.
At the same time, the court also levied a judgment of $14,769 against the business, which is owned solely by Nickson-Clark, according to state records.