Meth Supplier Sentenced to 23 Years for Role in Intoxication Death

Midland, TX – Zane Paul O’Neal, a 23-year-old man from Midland, Texas, was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for his role in the death of Sandy Brooke Franklin, announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, El Paso Division.

On July 29, 2015, Franklin began exhibiting signs of illness while being held in the Midland County Jail. She informed the jail staff that she had previously concealed a quantity of methamphetamine prior to arriving at the facility and had subsequently swallowed the methamphetamine. Franklin was taken by jail staff to Midland Memorial Hospital where she later died.

According to court records, Franklin was taken into custody following a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by O’Neal on July 27, 2015. Further investigation revealed that O’Neal was a methamphetamine supplier in the Midland area. By pleading guilty, O’Neal admitted to providing approximately three grams of methamphetamine to Franklin so she could hide it from law enforcement during the traffic stop.

O’Neal further admitted that several hours after Franklin’s arrest, she called him and told him that she had “eaten” the methamphetamine. A recorded jail phone call from Franklin to O’Neal confirmed that O’Neal provided the methamphetamine to Franklin and directed her to ingest it. O’Neal, admittedly, did not notify anyone of Franklin’s condition.

This case was investigated by the DEA, the Midland Police Department, and the Midland County Sheriff’s office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

O’Neal pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine that resulted in foreseeable death on October 22, 2015. His sentence was handed down by Senior United States District Judge Robert A. Junell in Midland today.

The investigation revealed that O’Neal was a methamphetamine supplier in the Midland area, providing the drug to individuals, including Franklin, who were trying to evade law enforcement. This case serves as a reminder of the dangers of methamphetamine and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

RELATED: Meth Kingpin Busted

Related Federal Cases