More than a dozen drug defendants have been released and three state officials have resigned in the wake of charges a 34- year-old Massachusetts chemist lied about drug sample results.
Annie Dookhan was arrested Friday for allegedly faking drug results, forging paperwork and mixing samples at a state police lab. Officials estimate Dookhan handled more than 60,000 drug samples involving 34,000 inmates in her nine years as a chemist at the Hinton State Laboratory Institute in Boston.
She is charged with two obstruction of justice charges for lying about drug samples she analyzed as well as a misdemeanor for testifying under oath that she held a master’s in chemistry. If convicted, she could face more than 20 years in prison on the charges.
Officials estimate 1,140 inmates are currently serving time in cases Dookhan was involved with and many of those cases may be brought up for review due to her alleged misconduct.
She allegedly would test a sample of samples sent to her to test and police said she would sometimes add agents if a sample came up negative, to create a positive result. Dookhan’s alleged misconduct prompted the shutdown of the lab she worked for. She lives in Franklin, about 40 miles south of Boston.
At an arraignment hearing Friday afternoon, bail was set at $10,000.
If you are facing any type of criminal drug charges in Virginia, Maryland or D.C., you should discuss your case with an experienced defense team. Call us today for your free, immediate consultation.
