Two Lincoln men sentenced on separate federal drug charges

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Two Lincoln men were sentenced on separate drug charges, both of which involved fentanyl, in federal court this week.

39-year-old Brandon Terrell Davis was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison on two two counts of distribution of cocaine and fentanyl resulting in bodily injury. Davis will serve the two sentences concurrently. 47-year-old Daniel William Zeiger was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine after a prior conviction for a serious felony drug offense.

Davis' conviction was related to two incidents in August of 2021.

On August 13, 2021, Lincoln Police Department officers were dispatched to the parking lot of a Lincoln bar on a report of two individuals suffering suspected drug overdoses.  LPD officers performed CPR on both victims until Lincoln Fire & Rescue arrived. 

One of the two victims revived after being given Narcan and said he had used cocaine with the other victim in the other victim’s truck in the parking lot.  The second victim was intubated and placed on a heart and lung machine for a time at a Lincoln hospital. The second victim told investigators he purchased what he believed to be one gram of cocaine from Davis. Drug paraphernalia and residue found in the victim’s truck were tested and found to contain cocaine and fentanyl.

On August 16, 2021, LPD responded to a Lincoln residence on a report of multiple possible drug overdoses. When they arrived, officers found two individuals who were not breathing and required CPR.  A third victim left the residence prior to officers arriving but was found unconscious on a bench in the area shortly thereafter.  The fourth victim began to show signs of an overdose after officers arrived.  Narcan was administered to the victims, and they were taken to Lincoln hospitals.  During a search of the residence, officers found drug paraphernalia with residue which was later tested and found to contain cocaine and fentanyl. Two of the victims told investigators they had purchased what they believed to be one gram of cocaine from Davis prior to these overdoses.

Zeiger was convicted for a 2020 incident.

On October 25, 2020, Zeiger was stopped for driving with a suspended license in Lincoln.  He told officers he had “dope and weed” in the car and on his person. Small amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana were found on Zeiger’s person. A search of the car resulted in the finding of 144 grams of methamphetamine mixture, a baggie containing marijuana and a scale. Zeiger admitted ownership of the drugs and the drug-related items. Text messages found in Zeiger’s phone indicated he was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine.

In 2007, Zeiger was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, a felony offense, in the District of Nebraska.