Lincoln Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs Stolen from the Nebraska State Patrol

Acting United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Anna Idigima, 38, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 21 years and 10 months’, (262 months’), imprisonment, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 kilograms or more of marijuana, resulting in serious bodily injury, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard.  Following her release from prison, Idigima will serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Beginning in June of 2021, Idigima, a Nebraska State Patrol, (NSP), stored evidence room employee, began stealing drugs held in completed NSP cases which were awaiting destruction orders. She provided the drugs to her boyfriend and co-defendant, George Weaver, who sold them in Lincoln. Video surveillance from NSP’s Lincoln evidence storage facility shows Idigima opening sealed boxes, taking items from those boxes, putting them in garbage bags and loading the bags into her personal vehicle on several occasions between June 16, 2021, and August 12, 2021. The Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, (LLCNTF), conducted an audit of the NSP evidence storage areas to which Idigima had access during this timeframe.  Idigima was fired by NSP because of this investigation in September of 2021. 

Through the audit, the following approximate totals of drugs were found to be missing:

Marijuana                    -           154 pounds                

Cocaine                       -           19 pounds                              

Fentanyl                      -           6 pounds                                

Heroin                         -           10 pounds                              

Methamphetamine      -           3 pounds        

THC                            -           32 pounds                              

THC vape cartridges   -           1,720              

Numerous assorted pills

In August of 2021, LLCNTF investigators searched Weaver’s SnapChat account and found drug-related conversations and a photo of several large bags of marijuana on a bed.  One of the bags had a piece of red evidence label tape on it which was consistent with evidence tape used by NSP.  In a search of an apartment rented by Weaver, believed to be the location where the photo of the marijuana was taken, investigators found residue containing cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana.

On August 4, 2021, a Nebraska City couple overdosed at their home in Nebraska City. One of them required CPR and both were given Narcan.  They were both hospitalized in Omaha.  During a search of their residence, two bags of white powder containing cocaine and fentanyl, weighing a total of just under one ounce, were found.  A review of first responder and hospital records for the couple by a physician, board certified in emergency medicine and medical toxicology, determined the couple would have been at a substantial risk of death had they not been given Narcan due to their use of cocaine laced with fentanyl.  After they recovered, the couple told investigators they bought what they believed was an ounce of cocaine from a Lincoln resident.  That person was contacted by law enforcement and told them he had purchased what he believed to be cocaine from Weaver and sold it to the Nebraska City couple.  It was this cocaine, laced with fentanyl, which caused the couple’s overdoses.

On August 18, 2021, a Lincoln man was found unconscious by first responders.  He was given CPR and Narcan and was hospitalized.  A search of his car turned up approximately two grams of white substance. An additional two grams were found in his wallet.  Both items were found to contain cocaine and fentanyl.  The government’s expert in emergency medicine and toxicology determined the victim would have been at a substantial risk of dying had he not been given Narcan.  The victim later told investigators he bought what he thought was cocaine earlier that day from another Lincoln resident and said he had used some in his car just prior to his overdose. 

On August 20, 2021, the seller of the cocaine and fentanyl involved in the August 18, 2021, overdose was arrested and found in possession of approximately one ounce of cocaine and fentanyl.  He agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and told them he got the drugs from Weaver one to two weeks prior to his arrest.  After his arrest, working with investigators, the seller met with Weaver and engaged Weaver in a conversation about paying Weaver for previously purchased drugs, including the cocaine which caused the August 18, 2021, overdose.  This conversation took place at Idigima’s residence.

Other cooperating witnesses provided information to the LLCNTF regarding purchases of cocaine made from Weaver beginning in about June of 2021.  One of those witnesses was arrested on August 12, 2021, after the execution of a search warrant at his Lincoln residence resulted in the finding of approximately six pounds of cocaine and more than $3,400 in cash in his Lincoln residence.  Weaver told the witness his source was a female.  The witness saw this female on one occasion and later identified her as Idigima after seeing photos which appeared in the press after Weaver’s and Idigima’s arrests in the fall of 2021.  In addition to purchasing cocaine from Weaver, the witness reported seeing Weaver in possession of approximately 20 one-pound bags of marijuana, THC, and three large gray evidence bags containing a white dust which Weaver claimed was cocaine, but the witness said the appearance and taste were not consistent with cocaine. 

Two other cooperating witnesses reported buying pills from Weaver and Idigima in August or September of 2021 with one of the witnesses saying payment for the pills was sent to Idigima’s CashApp account.

In January of 2023, Idigima, at that time incarcerated in the Saline County Jail, sent a letter to an inmate at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York, Nebraska.  The letter was intercepted by jail staff pursuant to policy.  In the letter, Idigima identified herself as “Anna Idigima” and wrote, “You may have heard about the case.  I was the evidence tech from the Nebraska State Patrol who took 1.2 million in drugs and sold them.” 

In response to Idigima’s sentencing, Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins said, “We would like to thank the Lincoln / Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and its members for working tirelessly to find those responsible for the loss of life and those also impacted in our community. We would like to give our heartfelt condolences to the families of these victims because we know it has been a long road to getting justice for them. We hope this allows them to heal from their loss. Thank you to the US Attorney’s Office for their partnership and hard work to bring those to justice.”

This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and UNL Police Department), the Nebraska State Patrol, the Nebraska City Police Department, and the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.