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Tzeo pleads guilty to drug charges

Brian Tzeo

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: November 3, 2009

NEWTON - Brian Tzeo pleaded guilty in court Monday to three felony drug charges.

The sentence came nearly eight months after his wife, Lisa Phan, and his children, Melanie, 20, Pauline, 18, and Cody, 4, were murdered in their home by an acquaintance. Authorities believe the murders were drug-related.

Tzeo was indicted Aug. 3 for possession with intent to manufacture, sell and distribute a schedule II controlled substance; conspiracy to possess opium with intent to manufacture, sell or distribute; and maintaining a dwelling to manufacture a controlled substance.

At Monday's court appearance, Tzeo pleaded guilty to the three charges.

"We followed the case closely while the federal parties were doing their investigation," said Jay Gaither, district attorney. "When the U.S. Attorney's Office decided not to prosecute, we decided to press charges, and are pleased he pleaded guilty to the charges he was indicted for in Catawba County."

The judge gave Tzeo a six- to eight-month suspended sentence. He also sentenced Tzeo to six months of intensive probation, which requires Tzeo to be in his home from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day, said Dan Fulkerson, Tzeo's attorney. A probation officer will have to check on him daily.

After six months, Tzeo will have 24 months of supervised probation, said Eric Farr, with the district attorney's office.

Tzeo also was ordered to pay a $500 fine, $242 in court costs, $600 in lab fees and $200 for community service fees, and he must complete 48 hours of community service, Fulkerson said.

Fulkerson said the situation couldn't have gone any better, considering the circumstances.

"I'm pleased, because he (Tzeo) is pleased," he said. "He was treated fairly by the judge."

Fulkerson said Tzeo planned to plead guilty to the charges when he was first indicted on them.

"He was so honest and forthright during the investigation," he said. "He wanted to resolve things in his way, on his terms, the best way he could. Brian is more relieved than anything else. He's still dealing with the fallout from things."

Tzeo's probation will be served in Alexander County, where he is now living with a family friend.