Lincoln Woman Sentenced on Drug and Gun Charges

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that on January 3, 2020, Anna J. Chernyy, 24, of Lincoln, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to a total of 15 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime.  Chernyy was sentenced to 10 years on the drug charge and a consecutive five years on the gun charge. There is no parole in the federal system. Following the prison terms, she will serve five years on supervised release.

Chernyy was held responsible for the distribution of at least 1.5 kilograms (approximately three pounds) of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine and at least 10 grams of heroin between January 30, 2019, and April 2, 2019, in the Lincoln area.  Between January 30, 2019, and March 25, 2019, an undercover officer made 12 purchases of methamphetamine and/or heroin from Chernyy in Lincoln.  During one of those purchases, on March 13, 2019, the officer saw Chernyy in possession of a Taurus 9mm handgun.  During that time, Chernyy provided the officer with information leading to the identification of her source as her co-defendant, Jeremiah Burkhart.  On March 31, 2019, Chernyy told the officer her source had gone to Colorado to bring back more drugs.

On April 2, 2019, officers stopped Burkhart in Grand Island on his way back to Lincoln from Colorado.  During a search of his car, officers found methamphetamine and a Taurus 9mm handgun, believed to be the same handgun seen earlier in Chernyy’s residence.  A search warrant was executed at Chernyy’s residence.  During that search, a safe was found containing additional methamphetamine and heroin. 

The total amount of methamphetamine purchased by the undercover officer and found during the searches of Burkhart’s car and Chernyy’s residence was more than 1.5 kilograms, and the total amount of heroin purchased or found during the search of Chernyy’s residence was more than10 grams.

Burkhart received 18 years in prison in December of 2019 after pleading guilty to the conspiracy charge.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.