Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey accepted prosecutor George Papachristos's resignation Wednesday. Papachristos was investigated by state police over his email correspondence with crime lab chemist Annie Dookhan.
A Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney has resigned in the wake of a State Police investigation of his relationship with JP Crime Lab "Rogue Chemist" Annie Dookhan. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey released a short statement about the resignation late Wednesday afternoon: After discussions with his supervisors, Assistant District Attorney George Papachristos has offered his resignation and District Attorney Michael Morrissey has agreed to accept it. George Papachristos communicated that he does not wish to be a further distraction from the central issue of the criminal conduct that has been alleged and the complete breakdown of supervision that allowed it to continue. Papachristos and Dookhan corresponded by email, with …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Several news sources are reporting that Annie Dookhan, the State Drug Lab chemist suspected of tainting evidence and putting thousands of convictions in jeopardy, has been arrested.
UPDATE, Friday 2:34 p.m: The Attorney General says "rogue chemist" Annie Dookhan wasn't driven to her alleged crimes by a drug habit or money trouble. But an overdeveloped need to please might have played a role. ~~~~~ Several news sources are reporting that Annie Dookhan, the State Drug Lab chemist suspected of tainting evidence and putting thousands of convictions in jeopardy, has been arrested. She will be charged with witness intimidation and falsifying her academic record, according to the Boston Globe. The South Street drug lab was shuttered in August as the extent of the scandal emerged. Follow all the State Drug Lab scandal news at our "JP Drug Lab Scandal" topic page. Sign up for our breaking news alerts for Jamaica Plain
42.3003
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305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
According to a State Police report obtained by the Globe, the chemist at the center of a scandal that may overturn thousands of drug convictions admitted to tainting evidence.
The chemist suspected of doctoring drug evidence — and putting thousands of convictions in jeopardy — allegedly told investigators she "messed up bad." In the State Police report, obtained by the Globe, lab chemist Annie Dookhan is said to admit to taking out samples when she shouldn't have, forging other chemists' signatures and not doing tests properly. The revelation of the police report came Wednesday in a fast-moving scandal. It emerged Tuesday that Annie Dookhan, whose actions may have tainted 34,000 drug cases, appears to have lied in court by claiming a master's degree in chemistry. Convicted criminals have begun to be freed in cases where Dookhan's evidence was used. So far, the state has identified 1,141 inmates whose convictions…
42.3003
-71.117109
305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
/articles/chemist-in-jp-drug-lab-scandal-told-investigators-i-messed-up-bad
/locations/7918807
The chemist whom the state blames for tainting evidence in thousands of drug cases appears to have lied on the witness stand about having a master's degree in chemistry.
Officials have added perjury to claims against a "rogue chemist" at the shuttered state drug lab in Jamaica Plain. It emerged Tuesday that Annie Dookhan, whose actions may have tainted 34,000 drug cases, appears to have lied in court by claiming a master's degree in chemistry. Dookhan, formerly known as Annie Khan, earned an undergraduate bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from UMass Boston in 2001. But, in contradiction of her testimony in a 2010 drug case, she doesn't have a master's. "We have no record of her doing subsequent graduate work at our campus," a UMass official told the Associated Press. 'No one has heard her side' Meanwhile, as convicted criminals have begun to be freed in cases where Dookhan's evidence was used, …
42.3003
-71.117109
305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
/articles/chemist-annie-dookhan-at-heart-of-state-drug-lab-scandal-alleged-to-have-lied-under-oath-about-her-education
/locations/7915269
Thursday, September 20, 2012
On Thursday Gov. Deval Patrick picked veteran prosecutor David Meier to lead a "boiler room" that would sift through cases to find out which ones are tainted by the scandal at the state drug lab on South Street.
The governor has handed a high-profile attorney who for a dozen years was chief prosecutor for homicides in Boston the mammoth task of handling the fallout from the scandal at the state drug lab in Jamaica Plain. Gov. Deval Patrick on Thursday announced his appointment of David Meier to lead a "boiler room" clearinghouse dedicated to finding everyone whose criminal case might have been tainted by what the state is calling a rogue chemist. Former Department of Public Health State Lab chemist Annie Dookhan allegedly doctored or otherwise tainted up to 60,000 drug samples in 34,000 cases. She resigned in March before the scandal became public. The governor shuttered the South Street labs in August. Since then, things have moved fast. On …
42.3003
-71.117109
305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
/articles/former-boston-prosecutor-david-meier-tasked-with-cleaning-up-jamaica-plain-drug-lab-scandal
/locations/7877433
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
A day after the head of the state's Department of Public Health resigned over a "rogue chemist" who may have tainted evidence in thousands of cases, a confessed drug dealer is going free.
The first of what could be thousands of convicted drug dealers is going free as a result of the evidence-tainting scandal at the State Labs in JP. The Globe reports that David Danielli will be released two and a half years before his sentence is up. He had pleaded guilty. He will be returned to the status of someone accused of a crime but not guilty of it. Chemist Annie Dookhan allegedly doctored or otherwise tainted up to 60,000 drug samples in 34,000 cases. She resigned before the scandal became public. For more details on this major turn in the State Labs scandal, please visit the Boston Globe. [Subscription may be required.]
42.3003
-71.117109
305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
/articles/globe-first-convict-freed-as-result-of-scandal-at-jamaica-plain-drug-lab
/locations/7872267
Monday, September 17, 2012
Public Health Department Commissioner John Auerbach, a JP resident, resigned Monday, saying "the buck stops with me" in the scandal that has shuttered the state drug lab on South Street — and put thousands of convictions at risk.
The scandal at the state's drug lab in Jamaica Plain claimed its highest-level victim to date with the resignation of the commission of public health. John Auerbach, who according to the JP Gazette lives here in the neighborhood, stepped down Monday. In a statement, he accepted responsibility. "It is clear that there was insufficient quality monitoring, reporting and investigating on the part of supervisors and managers surrounding the former Department of Public Health drug lab in Jamaica Plain – and ultimately, as Commissioner, the buck stops with me." As many as 34,000 criminal cases could be undermined by the alleged actions of chemist Annie Dookhan. She is alleged to have tampered with evidence in a variety of ways, including so as to…
42.3003
-71.117109
305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
/articles/head-of-state-s-department-of-public-health-jp-s-john-auerbach-resigns-over-jp-drug-lab-scandal
/locations/7858252
Friday, September 14, 2012
More shoes dropped Thursday in the unfolding scandal at the South Street lab, where a chemist may have mishandled as many as 34,000 drug cases.
The scandal at the shuttered State Labs on South Street widened Thursday as the lab direct resigned and a supervisor was fired. Lab director Dr. Linda Han resigned and Julie Nassif, director of the analytic chemistry division, was fired, according to reports in the Globe and Herald. It's the latest twist in an episode that could overturn an untold number of drug convictions. A chemist, Annie Dookhan, mishandled evidence in as many as 34,000 drug cases. She had resigned before news broke last month of investigations into her conduct. Governor Deval Patrick ordered the lab closed. Drugs samples are now being processed at the State Police lab in Sudbury. For more on the latest developments, please see the Globe and Herald.
42.3003
-71.117109
305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
/articles/bosses-fired-resign-over-jamaica-plain-evidence-lab-scandal
/locations/7834551
Thursday, August 30, 2012
A chemist at the South Street lab is suspected of mishandling evidence in drug cases. Law officials worry convictions could be overturned.
You've driven past the State Labs on South Street many times, and perhaps not known they were even there. But the gray concrete building is the epicenter of a scandal that has caused the labs to be shut down. Officials say a chemist in the lab mishandled evidence in drug cases. Her name hasn't been released and no criminal charges have been filed, according to multiple news reports. But officials worry that convictions could be overturned because of her actions. "I think we’re all furious about this," said Colonel Timothy Alben, head of the State Police, according to the Globe. "Our concern is about any miscarriage of justice that’s out there." For now, samples in drug cases will be processed at the State Police facility in Sudbury, State …
42.3003
-71.117109
305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
/articles/state-drug-lab-in-jamaica-plain-shut-down-amid-evidence-tampering-probe
/locations/7930822
WCVB reports that a chemist at the State Lab in Jamaica Plain is being investigated for tampering with evidence.
UPDATE, Thursday, 4:29 p.m. — State officials worry the mishandling of evidence at the JP lab may cause drug convictions to be overturned. ~~~~~ WCVB is reporting that a chemist at the State Lab in Jamaica Plain is being investigated for tampering with evidence. The lab tests evidence for several counties all over Massachusetts. WBZ reports that the lab has been closed down. The station says the chemist was not trying to change the outcomes of cases. A press conference is scheduled in Framingham at 2 p.m. This is a breaking news story. Check back with JP Patch soon for more.
42.3003
-71.117109
305 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA
State labs
/articles/wcvb-report-evidence-tampering-probe-at-state-drug-lab-in-jamaica-plain
/locations/7690033
Chris Helms
11:28 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012
Nice interrobang! Also reminds me of something I often say: "People. They're the worst." more ›