A north 50度灰视频 County man charged with six felonies in connection with a drug ring is the fiance of a Missouri legislator and has received more than $6,000 from her campaign.
Antonio Jones, 50, of Richmond Forest Drive, was charged in October with six counts of money laundering involving more than $650,000. The alleged crimes took place between March 8 and May 25, 2021, according to court records.
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.
The address that federal authorities say they have listed for Jones on Richmond Forest Drive is the same one that Nickson-Clark lists on her campaign reports and on business records filed with the state.
Nickson-Clark was elected to her first term in the Missouri House in 2022, representing an area that covers the northernmost part of the county. She is now locked in a Democratic primary contest with incumbent state Sen. Angela Mosley, D-Florissant.
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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.
The address listed for Jones in the campaign finance reports is the same address as Nickson-Clark鈥檚 on Richmond Forest Drive.
Nicholas Williams, Jones鈥 attorney, said Jones has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
鈥淲e continue to investigate the accusations and review the discovery. He looks forward to putting this matter behind him,鈥 Williams said in a statement.
When first contacted by the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday about the charges against Jones, Nickson-Clark said, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what you鈥檙e speaking about.鈥
Then on Thursday, Nickson-Clark emailed a statement to the Post-Dispatch, saying she was aware of the allegations against Jones.
鈥淭he legal process on these allegations are continuing and I believe in our system of justice and the due process it provides all citizens,鈥 her statement said.
Nickson-Clark also said the events and allegations occurred before she and Jones were together.
The campaign payments to Jones, listed in reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, began on Aug. 2, 2022, with a $250 payment that lists his duties as 鈥渃ampaign worker.鈥
Two more payments were made in October 2022 for a total of $1,350. Each of those payments designated Jones again as a 鈥渃ampaign worker.鈥 The last payment in 2022, $1,000, occurred on Dec. 21 and was for 鈥渃onsulting.鈥
In 2023, Nickson-Clark鈥檚 campaign made three payments to Jones: $2,000 on June 29 for 鈥淛uneteenth鈥; $1,000 on Sept. 14, with Jones listed as a 鈥渃ampaign worker鈥; and $500 on Dec. 14 for 鈥渆vent breakdown.鈥
That December 2023 payment was the only one made to Jones after the federal charges were issued.
Federal authorities claim that Jones and 33 other people charged last year are connected with an organized crime ring that has been involved in weapons violations; pandemic loan and bank fraud; and the distribution of heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine.
When the drug-ring bust was announced, Michael Davis, regional chief of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said, 鈥淭he scale of this Midwest criminal operation is uncommon.鈥
Each of the six alleged money laundering incidents involving Jones was for at least $100,000, with the largest being $150,030, according to federal charges. The total amount of money alleged to have been laundered by Jones and others is $659,970.
The indictment claims the transactions involved proceeds from distributing 鈥渃ontrolled substances ... knowing that the transactions were designed in whole and in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds.鈥
Federal prosecutors are asking that the defendants be required to forfeit real and personal assets if convicted.
Jones has been released on his own recognizance.
The primary race between Nickson-Clark and Mosley is a featured bout in a Democratic rivalry that has emerged in recent years.
Nickson-Clark is part of a coalition that includes 50度灰视频 County Council Chair Shalonda Webb. They are at odds with relatives and allies of Elbert Walton Jr., a longtime politico and former state representative. Mosley, Nickson-Clark鈥檚 primary opponent, is Walton鈥檚 daughter.
Katie Kull of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this story.