Jeremiah Johnson, 45, of Marathon was sentenced on May 14 to four years in state prison followed by four years of probation after pleading no contest to manslaughter by culpable negligence and the sale of cocaine in connection with the 2022 drug-related death of Brandon Marr, 42, also of Marathon.
Monroe County Circuit Judge Derek Lewis adjudicated Johnson guilty and also ordered him to pay $713 in court costs and investigative expenses.
The investigation began on Feb. 14, 2022, when deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in Marathon after Marr was found unresponsive in a bathroom by a friend.
A forensic examination of Marr’s cell phone revealed a series of text messages sent shortly before his death in which he arranged to buy cocaine. Investigators traced the phone number in those communications to Johnson.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner later determined Marr died from mixed drug toxicity involving cocaine and alcohol.
As the investigation continued, detectives uncovered evidence that Johnson was living at a Marathon home operated by Ronald Meyers III, where cocaine sales were being coordinated. Search warrants, witness interviews and forensic examinations of multiple cell phones revealed that Johnson was involved in arranging narcotics transactions on behalf of Meyers.
Meyers has been charged in connection with the same investigation, including manslaughter by culpable negligence, sale of cocaine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Those charges remain pending, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Johnson admitted to investigators that he was living at the residence and that Meyers supplied him with cocaine. Investigators determined Johnson facilitated the cocaine sale to Marr that ultimately resulted in Marr’s death.
“When someone dies from cocaine, our work does not stop with the person who handed over the drugs,” said Joseph Mansfield, chief assistant state attorney. “We follow the evidence to the source and hold accountable the suppliers and dealers who profit from these deadly substances. If you sell cocaine and someone dies as a result, you should expect to be prosecuted and sent to prison.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney K. Philip Harte.
