(Lincoln, NE) -- A Lincoln man accused of having his girlfriend steal drugs from Nebraska State Patrol evidence and selling the drugs pleads guilty in federal court.
On Friday, United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that 37 year old George Lesley Weaver, Jr. entered a guilty plea today to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms (11 pounds), or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams (approximately 14 ounces) or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and 50 kilograms (110 pounds) or more of marijuana in Lincoln and southeast Nebraska between June and September of 2021. Co-defendant, 37 year old Anna Idigima pleaded guilty to the same charge in February.
Federal Prosecutors say beginning around June of 2021 Idigima, who at that time employed as a Nebraska State Patrol stored evidence room employee in Lincoln, began stealing drugs held as evidence in completed cases which were awaiting destruction orders. Prosecutors say she gave the drugs to her boyfriend, Weaver, who then sold them in Lincoln. Investigators say an audit of the State Patrol storage areas where Idigima had access showed the following approximate totals of drugs were missing:
- Marijuana - 154 pounds
- Cocaine - 9 pounds
- Fentanyl - 6 pounds
- Heroin - 10 pounds
- Methamphetamine - 3 pounds
- THC - 32 pounds
- Numerous THC vape cartridges
- Assorted prescription drugs
In August of 2021, investigators found drug-related conversations and a photo of several large bags of marijuana in Weaver’s SnapChat Account. Prosecutors say one of the bags had a piece of red evidence tape on it which matched evidence tape used by the State Patrol. A Lincoln apartment rented by Weaver was also searched, resulting in the finding of residue containing cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana.
Investigators were able to link overdoses suffered by three persons to cocaine and fentanyl stolen from the State Patrol by Idigima and sold to others by Weaver. Prosecutors say all three victims required the administration of naloxone, commonly known as Narcan. Two required CPR, and all three were hospitalized. Investigators say a physician specializing in emergency room medicine and toxicology found all three would have been at substantial risk of dying from the use of cocaine laced with fentanyl if they had not received the Narcan.
The victims told investigators they bought what they believed to be cocaine just prior to their respective overdoses and provided the names of the people they bought the drugs from. Those people were arrested and told investigators they bought the drugs from Weaver. Information provided to law enforcement indicated Weaver sold large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs in the summer of 2021, and Idigima was directly involved in the sale of pills.
Idigima is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25, 2023, and Weaver is scheduled for sentencing on June 16, 2023. Both face mandatory minimum prison sentences of 20 years in prison with a maximum of life. There is no parole in the federal system.