Thursday, May 9, 2013
Ex-state chemist Annie Dookhan faces 27 charges in six Massachusetts counties related to falsifying test results in drug cases.
A Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that all 27 charges against ex-state drug lab chemist Annie Dookhan will stand despite attempts by her lawyer to get two thrown out. The Boston Herald reports Dookhan’s lawyer Nicolas Gordon argued to try to get two counts of witness intimidation dismissed, but Judge Jeffrey Locke denied Gordon’s attempt. Dookhan, who is accused of falsifying drug case evidence in thousands of cases during her tenure at a Jamaica Plain lab, pleaded not guilty Dec. 19, 2012 to four counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence and one count of falsely pretending to hold a degree from a college or university.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
In a busy week for drug lab news, one man was convicted despite arguing that disgraced chemist Annie Dookhan tested the evidence in his case.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Julio Medina was convicted on charges related to the sale of heroin to an undercover officer in the South End in 2009.
Although the substance he sold to an undercover officer which turned out to be heroin was originally tested by Annie Dookhan, a repeat offender has been convicted. Julio Medina, 57, was found guilty March 27 in Suffolk Superior Court of selling five bags of heroin to a plainclothes officer in the South End in 2009, according to a statement from Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley. The original drug evidence was tested by Dookhan, who is accused of falsifying evidence in thousands of state drug cases. The jury deliberated in under 15 minutes, according to the statement. “Given all the facts, anyone can see that the evidence in a drug case is never limited to merely the drugs,” Conley said in the statement. “There’s a sequence of …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Massachusetts has already spent $760,000 re-prosecuting drug cases in which ex-chemist Annie Dookhan was involved in testing.
By this summer, the state will have spent $2.5 million prosecuting individuals whose court cases have been affected by the Annie Dookhan-sparked drug lab crisis. The Boston Herald reported Saturday that state prosecutors have spent $760,000 so far in the scandal, which has rocked the Massachusetts justice system. Dookhan, who tampered with drug evidence, faces charges in six counties. Her actions as an employee at the state Hinton Drug Lab in Jamaica Plain have had consequences statewide, as judges and prosecutors scramble to retry – and in some cases release – those convicted on drug charges.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts wants the sentences of defendants put on hold in drug cases in which evidence was handled by a an ex-state drug lab chemist accused of falsifying the results in thousands of state cases.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Ex-chemist Annie Dookhan accused of tainting evidence in thousands of Massachusetts drug lab cases.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts wants the sentences of defendants put on hold in drug cases in which evidence was handled by a an ex-state drug lab chemist accused of falsifying the results in thousands of state cases. The ACLU has asked the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to rule that defendants whose cases were handled by Annie Doohan have their sentences held while they await new trials, according to ABC News. Dookhan, who worked at the Hinton state drug lab in Jamaica Plain, faces 27 charges, including 17 counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence, perjury and falsely pretending to hold a degree from a college or university. She has pleaded not guilty at each of six arraignments …
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Maykor Baez's previous pending gun charge was dismissed because it was assigned to the tainted JP Drug Lab chemist.
A Roslindale man whose previous gun charge was dismissed because the assigned chemist is under investigation - allegedly caught this weekend by Boston Police in a harrowing rooftop chase - had bail set at $200,000 on Monday for new gun and drug charges. Maykor Baez, 20, of Roslindale, was one of six men held on high bails on Monday at their arraignments on gun and drug charges, according to a press release from Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley. Dorchester District Court Judge James Coffey imposed $200,000 cash bail for: Maykor Baez, 20, of Roslindale; Jonathan Garcia, 23, of Jamaica Plain; Jose Justiniano, 38, of Dorchester; Leidys Lugo-Mejia, 24, of Dorchester; and Gilbert Rodriguez-Diaz, 22, of Dorchester. Bail was set at…
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Ex-chemist Annie Dookhan faced her sixth arraignment yesterday on charges that stem from one situation. Her attorney said it’s all part of the plan.
Annie Dookhan, the ex-chemist who stands accused of mishandling evidence in thousands of state drug cases, has been appearing in court after court since the 27-charge indictment against her came down Dec. 17, 2012. Following her latest arraignment Monday in Salem Superior Court, she has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Dookhan has now appeared at six arraignments in Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Bristol, Salem and Middlesex Superior Courts. She faces 17 counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence, perjury and falsely pretending to hold a degree from a college or university. Due to the widespread nature of the situation – Dookhan’s malfeasance while she was employed at the Jamaica Plain drug lab has …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Annie Dookhan faces 27 charges for her central role in the state drug lab crisis.
The ex-chemist whose work will have tainted thousands of drug lab cases across the state will face another arraignment today. Annie Dookhan will be in Salem Superior Court for her sixth arraignment Monday for a charge of obstruction of justice, according to the Salem News. Dookhan pleaded not guilty to 15 charges in Suffolk Superior Court Dec. 20. The charges included four counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence and one count of falsely pretending to hold a degree from a college or university. She pleaded not guilty to charges in Norfolk Superior Court in January well. She faces a total of 27 charges in counties around the state. She pleaded not guilty to charges in Norfolk Superior Court earlier this …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Annie Dookhan, the chemist at the center of the state drug lab crisis, pleaded not guilty to more charges today.
The ex-chemist whose malfeasance tainted thousands of state drug cases was in court facing six more charges this week. Annie Dookhan pleaded not guilty to five counts of obstruction of justice in Brockton Superior Court and to one count in Fall River Superior Court Wednesday, according to WHDH.com. Dookhan pleaded not guilty to 15 charges in Suffolk Superior Court Dec. 20. The charges included four counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence and one count of falsely pretending to hold a degree from a college or university. She pleaded not guilty to charges in Norfolk Superior Court earlier this month as well. Dookhan is the centerpiece in a state drug lab crisis that has affected the outcome of thousands of …
