The Lincoln Lancaster County Task Force arrested two people on Thursday after an audit found a large amount of fentanyl laced cocaine was stolen from a Nebraska State Patrol evidence locker.
Captain Ryan Dale is the commander of the task force and says one of the two arrested was 35 year old Anna Idigima, a former state patrol employee who had access to the evidence room. Her boyfriend, 35 year old George Weaver Jr., was also arrested. Dale says the drugs stolen contributed to the overdose deaths of several people in Lincoln.
Between July 24 and August 19 of this year LPD investigated 35 overdoses, nine of which resulted in death. Police say one surviving victim was pregnant and the baby did not survive.
LPD and NSP did an audit of the patrol’s evidence facilities in Lincoln and determined that drugs were missing, including cocaine and fentanyl during the time of Idigima’s employment. Investigators traced the trail from some the overdoses to the original source, which was determined to be Idigima and Weaver.
Idigima and Weaver were arrested for Conspiracy to Distribute 140 grams or more of Cocaine and Fentanyl. Idigima had worked for the department for 14 years and has been an evidence technician for several years according to NSP Colonel John Bolduc.
“This employee had betrayed the trust of the people of Nebraska who look to the State Patrol as the professional and dedicated law enforcement agency that it is. She also betrayed the trust placed in her by our troopers and investigators and civilian team members who take pride in our constant mission to keep Nebraska safe. Worse than that, her actions appear to have caused immense pain for many people in this community,” Bolduc says.
He says Idigima was suspended during the investigation and he fired her on August 27. Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon says they will be charged with felonies Friday afternoon. If convicted, they could get 20 years to life in prison. The audit shows about $1.2 million in drugs were missing, including cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and marijuana.
