A Denison man who recorded a 20-year-old woman’s fatal overdose for hours before calling 911 after she stopped breathing has been sentenced to life in federal prison for supplying the fentanyl that caused her death.
Andrew Michael Smith, 36, was sentenced on June 22 by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant after a jury found him guilty of possession with intent to distribute and dispense fentanyl resulting in death, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
The case centered on the September 5, 2024, death of Macie Joe Chastain, whose cause of death was later determined to be multidrug toxicity involving fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Prosecutors Detail Hours-Long Overdose
According to evidence presented during the trial, Smith supplied Chastain with fentanyl and methamphetamine and remained with her as she began experiencing severe symptoms of an overdose.
Federal prosecutors said Chastain showed signs of respiratory distress, severe mental confusion, vomiting, and tremors. Rather than immediately seeking medical assistance, Smith recorded video of her on his cellphone for several hours as her condition deteriorated.
Evidence introduced at trial showed Smith continued communicating with other individuals and arranging additional drug transactions while Chastain was dying, prosecutors said. Authorities said Smith did not contact emergency responders until after Chastain had taken her final breath.
When law enforcement and emergency personnel arrived, they attempted lifesaving measures, but Chastain was pronounced dead.
Federal Prosecutors Condemn Actions
U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said Smith knowingly exploited a vulnerable victim and failed to intervene as she suffered a fatal overdose.
“Smith targeted this victim because he knew her addiction made her vulnerable,” Combs said in a statement. “Smith deserves every day of this life sentence. Our office, and our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively seek justice for drug trafficking victims.”
Case Began As Local Investigation
The investigation initially began at the local level and marked the first fentanyl murder arrest in Grayson County under a Texas law that took effect in 2023, allowing criminal charges against individuals accused of supplying fatal doses of fentanyl.
The case was later prosecuted in federal court.
Federal authorities said the investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Denison Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Erlandson and Abe McGlothin Jr. prosecuted the case.
Part Of National DOJ Initiative
Federal officials said the prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal groups, and violent crime.
The program coordinates resources from the Department of Justice, including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods, to target criminal organizations and narcotics distribution networks.
Smith will serve his sentence in federal prison.
