Terry Wayne Franklin, 39, and his wife, Mary Danielle Sheppard, 36, both of Conway, Arkansas, have been sentenced to a combined total of 45 years in federal prison for their involvement in the sale of fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose. U.S. District Judge James M. Moody Jr. sentenced Franklin to 25 years in prison on Wednesday, with three years of supervised release to follow. Sheppard was sentenced to 20 years in prison, also followed by three years of supervised release, on Thursday.
The charges stem from an incident on May 15, 2022, when Greenbrier police responded to a possible overdose at a residence in Conway. The victim was later confirmed to have died from the overdose at a local hospital. At the scene, law enforcement discovered several blue pills marked “M30,” which are commonly associated with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.
An investigation revealed that Franklin had been in communication with the victim through text messages regarding the purchase of fentanyl pills. Franklin allegedly instructed the victim to send payment for the drugs to Sheppard’s CashApp account and arranged for the victim to pick up the pills from Sheppard. Surveillance footage confirmed that the victim met with Sheppard on the night the pills were obtained, just hours before the overdose occurred.
“This couple made the decision to sell pills containing a deadly, illegal drug, unfortunately resulting in yet another loss of life from the use of fentanyl,” stated Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Let this sentence serve as a warning to those who sell fentanyl in any form, that you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and the penalty is severe.”
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, Conway Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies. The couple’s sentence underscores the growing urgency to address fentanyl trafficking, which continues to cause a surge in overdose deaths across the United States. There is no parole in the federal prison system, ensuring that Franklin and Sheppard will serve the full length of their sentences.
