JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two Jacksonville brothers are accused of distributing counterfeit oxycodone pills on the darknet — pills federal prosecutors say contained several dangerous synthetic opioids.
The allegations provide new details about a federal investigation that led to the Aug. 28 arrests of Vladislav Chernyshov, 35, and Stanislav Chernyshov, 30.
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Federal prosecutors charged the brothers with conspiracy to distribute nitazenes, synthetic opioids that can match or surpass fentanyl’s potency.
According to court documents, the brothers allegedly operated on the darknet under the moniker “BarbaraWhite” and distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills containing nitazenes.
The federal investigation began after a fatal overdose in Arlington, Virginia, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors say Jacksonville brothers Vladislav and Stanislav Chernyshov were selling counterfeit oxycodone pills on the dark web under the name “Barbara White.” (WJXT)Darknet alias ‘BarbaraWhite’
The darknet is a part of the internet that is not accessible through standard search engines and typically requires specialized software to access. It can be used for anonymous transactions, including the sale of illegal drugs.
According to court documents, the brothers allegedly used the name “BarbaraWhite” to sell counterfeit oxycodone pills.
The pills were made to look like real prescription oxycodone, according to prosecutors.
The pills were marketed on the darknet as “fent free,” but laboratory testing found several nitazenes, including protonitazene, metonitazene, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene and N-pyrrolidino isotonitazene.
Federal prosecutors say the substances identified in the pills can be more potent than fentanyl.
The investigation began after a fatal overdose in Arlington, Virginia. Court records say the overdose occurred in August 2023. Federal authorities have not publicly identified the person who died.
Jewelry store, St. Johns County home raided
News4JAX was first on the scene at Victory Jewelers on Sunbeam Road, where FBI agents surrounded the business shortly after 6:30 a.m. Aug. 28.
Agents were seen with weapons drawn, and some wore protective gear. A window at the business was broken during the operation.
Cellphone video provided to News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hanson by a nearby business owner shows a person being taken from the building in handcuffs. The video also appears to show smoke or gas around the scene.
At the time, the FBI said only that it was conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity.
Agents also searched a home in St. Johns County that morning.
The FBI has not publicly detailed what agents were looking for at either location or what was recovered.
According to the federal case, investigators traced the alleged darknet drug operation to Jacksonville.
What the brothers face
The Chernyshov brothers are charged with conspiracy to distribute nitazenes.
If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of at least 20 years in prison, according to federal prosecutors.
A federal judge would determine any sentence after considering the federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The criminal complaint is an accusation. The brothers are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Federal authorities have not released a detailed account of what agents found inside Victory Jewelers or the St. Johns County home.
It also remains unclear what role each location allegedly played in the investigation.
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