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Jacksonville brothers charged with nitazene distribution

Two brothers from Jacksonville, Florida, face charges of conspiracy to distribute nitazenes, synthetic opioids that can be more potent than fentanyl.

2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 2, 2026, 1:17 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 2, 2026, 1:24 p.m. ET
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – On Sept. 2, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced that 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. The charges are only accusations at this stage, and the case remains undecided. 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 under the moniker “BarbaraWhite,” according to court documents. Laboratory analysis of the pills, which bore markings mimicking pharmaceutical oxycodone, found them laced with various nitazenes, including Protonitazene, Metonitazene, N-Pyrrolidino Etonitazene, and N-Pyrrolidino Isotonitazene. The pills were marketed as “fent free,” though the substances identified have been found to be potentially more potent than fentanyl. The investigation began following a fatal overdose in Arlington. If convicted, the brothers 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. The announcement was made by 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 Division; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA’s Detroit Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather D. Call and Catherine Rosenberg are prosecuting the case. The case is pending, and no resolution has been reached.

Earlier reports

  1. Sep 2, 2026, 1:17 p.m. ETFirst report

    Jacksonville brothers charged with nitazene distribution

    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 the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The charges were announced on Sept. 2, 2026, in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

    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 under the moniker “BarbaraWhite,” the announcement said. Laboratory analysis of the pills, which bore markings mimicking pharmaceutical oxycodone, found them laced with various nitazenes, including Protonitazene, Metonitazene, N-Pyrrolidino Etonitazene, and N-Pyrrolidino Isotonitazene. The pills were marketed as “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, the brothers 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.

    The announcement was made by 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 DEA’s Detroit Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather D. Call and Catherine Rosenberg are prosecuting the case.

    A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is at the charging stage, and no trial has occurred.

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Revision history

  1. Version 12 Sept 2026, 17:24current

    First published.

  2. Version 12 Sept 2026, 17:17current

    First published.

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