Jacksonville brothers charged with nitazene distribution

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two brothers from Jacksonville, Florida, were arrested on Aug. 28 on charges of conspiracy to distribute nitazenes, synthetic opioids similar to fentanyl but that can match or surpass fentanyl’s potency.

According to court documents, Vladislav Chernyshov, 35, a naturalized U.S. Citizen, and Stanislav Chernyshov, 30, a Russian national illegally residing in Jacksonville, allegedly distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills on the darknet operating under the moniker “BarbaraWhite.” Laboratory analysis of the counterfeit pills sold in the conspiracy, which bore markings mimicking pharmaceutically manufactured oxycodone pills, found them to be laced with various nitazenes, including Protonitazene, Metonitazene, N-Pyrrolidino Etonitazene, and N-Pyrrolidino Isotonitazene. These pills were marketed on the darknet as being “fent free,” though the substances identified have been found to be potentially more potent than fentanyl. Law enforcement began its investigation following a fatal overdose in Arlington.

If convicted, Vladislav and Stanislav Chernyshov face a maximum penalty of at least twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jeffrey L. Tyler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Detroit Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement. The FBI’s Atlanta and Jacksonville Field Offices, the USPIS Fort Worth and Miami Divisions, and the Clay County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office provided substantial assistance in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather D. Call and Catherine Rosenberg are prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-mj-336.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.