Man pleads guilty to selling drugs stolen from Nebraska State Patrol evidence room

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Lincoln man who sold drugs stolen from the Nebraska State Patrol evidence room pleaded guilty on Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

George Weaver Jr., 37, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute mixtures containing cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana.

Weaver’s co-defendant, 37-year-old Anna Idigima, pleaded guilty to the same charge on Feb. 14.

Idigima is a former employee of the patrol who worked inside the evidence room in Lincoln.

In June 2021, Idigima started stealing drugs from evidence and giving them to her boyfriend, Weaver, who sold them in Lincoln, according to the attorney’s office.

When the patrol’s evidence storage was audited, authorities discovered that 154 pounds of marijuana, 9 pounds of cocaine, 6 pounds of fentanyl, 10 pounds of heroin, 3 pounds of meth and 32 pounds of THC were missing.

In August 2021, investigators found “drug-related” conversations, including a photo of several large bags of marijuana, on Weaver’s Snapchat account, the attorney’s office said.

One of the bags seen in the photo had a piece of red evidence tape on it, which matched the tape used by the patrol.

When authorities searched Weaver’s apartment, they found residue containing cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana.

Investigators then linked the overdoses of three people to cocaine and fentanyl that had been stolen from the patrol.

All three of the victims were hospitalized, and two required CPR, the attorney’s office said.

Through an investigation, authorities found that the drugs had come from Weaver, according to the attorney’s office.

Idigima’s sentencing is set for May 25, and Weaver is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16.

The attorney’s office said each face 20 years to life in prison.  There is no parole in the federal system.