05/26/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26 , 2026
Marathon Man Sentenced to Prison in Co***ne Related Death of 42 Year Old Marathon Resident
MARATHON, FL
In a recent case, Jeremiah Johnson, 45, was sentenced on May 14, 2026, to four years in Florida State Prison followed by four years of probation after pleading no contest to manslaughter by culpable negligence and sale of co***ne in connection with the 2022 drug-related death of Brandon Marr, 42, 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 February 14, 2022, when deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence 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 purchase co***ne. Investigators traced the phone number used in those communications to Johnson.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner later determined Marr died from mixed drug toxicity involving co***ne and alcohol.
As the investigation continued, detectives uncovered evidence that Johnson was living at a Marathon residence operated by Ronald Meyers III, where co***ne 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.
Ronald Meyers III has also been charged in connection with the same investigation, including manslaughter by culpable negligence, sale of co***ne, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Those charges remain pending, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Johnson admitted to investigators that he was living at the residence and that Meyers supplied him with co***ne. Investigators determined Johnson facilitated the co***ne sale to Marr that ultimately resulted in Marr’s death.
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said prosecutors will continue to pursue everyone involved in the illegal drug supply chain when their actions result in the loss of human life.
“When someone dies from co***ne, our work does not stop with the person who handed over the drugs,” Mansfield said. “We follow the evidence to the source and hold accountable the suppliers and dealers who profit from these deadly substances. If you sell co***ne 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.
MONROE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Dennis W. Ward, is committed to upholding the law through ethical prosecution, collaboration with investigative partners, and the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Monroe County.