Farak graduated with high distinction from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and was passionate about science, according to Rolling Stone. The chemist, Sonja Farak, worked at the state drug lab in Amherst, Massachusetts, for more than eight years. Faraks wife had her own mental health problems, and according to Rolling Stone, Farak would have conflict with her wife every night at home. Carr said that Farak is a private person. In fact, she was the first girl in the state of Rhode Island to play high school football in a public school system. Sonja Farak, left, stands during her arraignment at Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, Mass. Personal life. Linda was married to Stanley M Farak, who was in the US Navy. "She's somebody that sort of shies away from press. A federal judge has rejected claims from an embattled former state prosecutor that she is protected from liability in the fallout over a Massachusetts drug lab scandal. Sonja Farak, who worked as a chemist at the Amherst drug lab since 2004, was arrested in January 2013 after one of her co-workers noticed samples were missing from evidence. She worked there for a year but soon realized she wouldnt make enough money there in the Boston area to buy a house. Farak pleaded guilty to four counts of tampering with evidence, four counts of theft of a controlled substance from an authorized dispensary, and two counts of possession of cocaine in 2014. The newest true crime series from Netflix, How to Fix a Drug Scandal, was released on April 1, 2020. In December 2011, after police in Springfield, Mass., had arrested Renaldo Penate for allegedly selling heroin, the drugs from that case were tested at a state drug lab by technician Sonja Farak. In fact, How To Fix a Drug Scandal shows the Faraks at a football game after Sonja serves time for her actions. "The mental health worksheets constituted admissions by the state lab chemist assigned to analyze the samples seized in Plaintiffs case that she was stealing and using lab samples to feed a drug addiction at the time she was testing and certifying the samples in Plaintiffs case, including, in one instance, on the very day that she certified a sample," Robertson's ruling reads. As shown in the docuseries, she testified that her childhood was normal and middle class. After graduating from Portsmouth High School, Farak attended the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she got a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry in 2000. You can try, Judge dismisses 'qualified immunity' claim in suit against ex-prosecutor in drug lab scandal, Judge declines mass dismissal of cases from tainted drug lab, New Evidence May Implicate Additional Chemists In Statewide Drug Lab Scandal. Linda was married to Stanley M Farak, who was in the US Navy. Farak apparently still tested each caseunlike Annie Dookhan, another Massachusetts chemist who was arrested five months prior to Farak for fabricating test results. Linda was born on 19th July 1951. Who is Sonja Farak, the former state drug lab chemist featured in the show? Her curiosity soon led to a regular drug habit. Thank you! After launching a lengthy investigation, his attorney Luke Ryan discovered that Farak had been using drugs the same day she ran tests on the substances found on him, thanks to paperwork he discovered noting the date of one of Farak's therapy sessions, where she admitted to have been using that day. The actions of Sonja Farak and Annie Dookhan caused a racket of such a scale that the state had to recompense for it with millions of dollars and had to make a historic move in the dismissal of wrongful convictions. When she got married, it turned out that her wife, too, suffered from her own demons, and their collective anguish made Sonja desperate for a reprieve from this life. Email; Facebook Tweet Listen 7:58. The disgraced chemist was sentenced to less than two years behind bars in 2014, following her guilty pleas for stealing cocaine from the lab. Sadly, theirs weren't the greatest crimes in this real-life drama. Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Womens Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. Dookhan married Surrendranath Dookhan, a software engineer, in 2004. She is not active on any social media platform and has kept her distance from the press. Shes a high school graduate. NORTHAMPTON Sonja J. Farak told a nurse at the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center in Chicopee in December 2013 that she used methamphetamines and other stimulants "whenever she could get her hands on them." And since her job as a chemist was to test drug samples at a state drug lab in Amherst, that opportunity came daily. The last contact information provided by her, in response to Penates allegations, placed her residence in Hatfield, Massachusetts. After Faraks arrest in 2013, police found pages of mental health worksheets in her car indicating she'd struggled with drug addiction since at least 2011. Westcott has been in recovery from heroin addiction for nearly nine years. Criminals. Since the takeover, the budget for all forensic labs across the state has been increased, by around twenty-five per cent. She said early recovery was hard because finding employment and housing was difficult with a criminal record and having to pay court fees. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. The series chronicles nine years of misconduct at two Massachusetts drug labs. In high school, Farak became the first girl to play high school football in the state of Rhode Island and made local headlines. Sonja Farak, tasked with testing confiscated drugs inMassachusetts, was high on the job for years. She tried to kill herself in high school, according to Rolling Stone. By Arun Rath Matt Baskin. Her notes record on-the-job drug use ranging from small nips of the lab's baseline. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! The difference? The place was closed as soon as Faraks crimes came to light. Camila Cabello And Shawn Mendes' Full Relationship, Everything To Know About Rihannas 2nd Pregnancy, Stars Who Got Their Start on Reality TV Shows, These Pregnant Celebrities Have Due Dates In 2023, See Blake Shelton's Throwback Pic With Reba, Meghan Trainor Says She 'Can't Walk' After Sex, Five Dead Giveaways Tell Burglars You're Not Home, 40 Things You Can Buy On Amazon For Under $10. Where is Farak today? A judge will hold a final hearing on the settlement in October. Kaczmarek is one of three former prosecutors whose role in the prosecution of Farak later became the focus of several lawsuits and disciplinary hearings. I was doing really well, Westcott said. She has kept a low profile but has been spotted in court for civil cases related to her own case, including in 2018. Unfortunately, Stanley passed away in 2015. There were also fewer technicians, which made it easier for her drug use to go undetected. Obviously, after a blunder of such scale, no one would want their samples checked from the same lab. Share. Each person who has had a case dismissed will receive at least $150. She really did, at certain times, tried to stop doing this but couldnt.. He was most recently a reporter at The Lowell Sun. According to a Rolling Stone profile on Farak and the case, the former chemist has not been heard from since her release. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. In high school, she nearly died by suicide, and in college Farak was . "And I think often when we're looking at these criminal justice stories, and we're looking at 'perpetrators,' we sort of almost see them as avatars, like 'there was this bad chemist and she did X.'" In 2018, all of the criminal convictions more than 10,000 that Farak worked on were dismissed. When she tried it she did so when others in the lab went out to lunch it met her expectations. You know, no special treatment.. To find out if your case was affected by either Ms. Dookhan or Ms. Farak, you can call a toll-free hotline operated by defense lawyers with the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency in Massachusetts. 1. She graduated with high distinction. In the series, it's explained that Farak loved the energy the meth gave her. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. After their arrests, prosecutors at the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office then. She has been under arrest since 2013 under drug abuse charges. Between Farak and Dookhanwho's also featured in How to Fix a Drug Scandal38,000 wrongfully convicted cases have been dismissed, according to the Washington Post. She still resides in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, specifically, in the Portsmouth Park Area. She confided in her therapist that all the drugs she was consuming came from her workplace. The surveillance of the chemists as well as the standards and the confiscated drugs has also been increased considerably. You can try, Suspensions and a reprimand proposed for prosecutors admonished in drug lab scandal. Now, you might be curious about where Sonjas mother, Linda, is at the moment. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Netflix's new docuseries How to Fix a Drug Scandal is about way more than former drug lab chemist Sonja Farak's years-long addiction to the drugs she was testing everyday. Sonja Farak: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. A Board of Bar Overseers special hearing officer recently issued these findings in a 98-page decision about former assistant attorneys general Anne Kaczmarek, John Verner and Kris Foster. Episode 1. As she put it in a piece for Commonwealth Magazine, the Farak case involved a rare one-two punch of official misconduct. She joined Jim Braude to discuss. She married Lee after starting her job, but their marriage was rocky. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Hafsa Quraishi Twitter Associate Producer, Here & NowHafsa Quraishi is an associate producer for Here & Now. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! A pair of scandals at two state . Three prosecutors connected with the Amherst drug lab scandal failed to disclose evidence and engaged in misconduct, including one prosecutor who actively misled others, a scathing report states. Netflix released a new docu-series called "How to Fix a Drug Scandal." Magistrate Judge Robertson denied a request in Penate's lawsuit that Kaczmarek be prohibited from contesting the special hearing officer's findings. Sonja Farak, of Northampton, a former chemist at the state crime lab in Amherst, appears in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton in April 2013 for her arraignment on multiple counts of evidence . T he day Sonja Farak's world unraveled - the day a crack pipe and sliced evidence bags of cocaine were found at her workstation - started like many others: she attended court. The lax security and regulations of the place and the negligent supervision of the employees and the stock of standards are the reasons why Farak was encouraged to do what she did. How to Fix A Drug Scandal is Netflix's latest intriguing documentary series, and these are 10 details everyone missed. Farak was arrested in January 2013 for stealing drugs . Criminal. ", "She isn't on drugs anymore, and I think that that is incredible," Carr, who also directed the true-crime documentaries. He recommended she lose her law license for two years; the Office of Bar Counsel later argued Kaczmarek should be disbarred. Directed by Erin Lee Carr, the four-part Netflix docuseries depicts the criminal investigation of two drug analysts - Sonja Farak and Annie Dookhan - who manipulated the legal process for self-serving reasons. Her parents were described as loving, and somewhat strict. Her arrest led to the dismissal of thousands of drug cases in Massachusetts. After high school, Sonja went on to major in biochemistry at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in western Massachusetts. Before her sentencing, Farak failed a drug test while out on bail, according to Mass Live. Farak is amongst one of the 18 defendants battling the lawsuit filed by Rolando Penate. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Linda Farak is currently in her 60s. Trump's latest attack addresses DeSantis' overseas trips to the U.K., Israel, Florida's Covid-19 record, and polling support for the 2024 Presidential race. (Featured Image Credit: Mass Live). The district attorneys in Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Hampden and Northwest counties have dismissed charges in about 6,000 cases linked to Farak. Support GBH. When she's not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Sonja Farak is at the center of Netflix's new true crime docuseries, How To Fix a Drug Scandal. She was struggling to suppress mental health issues, depression in particular, and she tried to kill herself in high school, according to, I could not imagine being high on liquid methamphetamine and hiding it, day in, day out, Carr told, , adding that her initial curiosity surrounding Farak kicked off the making of the docuseries. She really did, at certain times, tried to stop doing this but couldnt.. 45 Year Olds. Penate is just one of the thousands of people whose cases were affected by Faraks actions. According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Farak graduated with awards and distinctions. Sonja Farak. Rick is a Massachusetts native and graduated from Boston University. Before her sentencing, Farak failed a drug test while. Farak was in her mid-thirties at the time. Heres what you need to know about Sonja Farak: Farak was born on January 13, 1978, in Rhode Island to Stanley and Linda Farak. The four-part investigation explains why the Massachusetts drug analyst fabricated evidence while working at the Hinton State Laboratory in Boston, and how her incompetence affected a subsequent scandal involving fellow chemist Sonja Farak in Amherst. I, think I make a strong case and advocate that humans are fallible and she needs to be given a second chance, but thats an unpopular opinion, and I can't control how the public reacts to it.. 1 Indeed, this Court's decisions concerning the Hinton drug lab scandal compel that remedy. Within a year of working at the new lab, Farak began doing drugs. The latter investigation was the result of a complaint filed by Nina Morrison, senior litigation counsel for the Innocence Project. It wasn't until she began working at a crime lab responsible for testing drugs acquired from arrests that Farak became addicted to drugs. After serving for 13 months, she was released on parole in 2015. Months before Faraks misconduct came to light in 2013, another lab technician named Annie Dookhan was arrested in 2012 after it became apparent that she wasnt even testing the drug evidence; rather, she just marked results as positive so that she could impress her colleagues with her speed and efficiency. A majority of the report focused on Kaczmarek, who was primarily in charge of the day-to-day handling of the Farak prosecution. While confessed addict Farak was using confiscated drugs as her personal stash Dookhan wasn't even testing her drugs, just pushing all tests through as positive to impress her superiors with her speed and efficiency. Furthermore, she said she has been grappling with how the docuseries may have affected Faraks life. ", SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. Her medical records included notes from Faraks therapist in Amherst, Anna Kogan. A status hearing on Penate's suit, which was filed in 2017, is scheduled for July. As a defense attorney, he discusses the importance . Its almost as if somebody would take the worst part of my life and show it to millions of people.. She shone academically as well. Its unclear if she still owns the property and if she lives there now. Robertson rejected Kaczmarek's claims she should not be held responsible for the turning over of exculpatory evidence because she was not part of the "prosecution team" in Penate's case. Her wrongdoings were exposed when unsealed cocaine and a crack pipe were found under her desk. . He went to bat for clients who were affected by both Farak and Dookhans misconduct. This immediately provoked questions about the thousands of cases in which her findings had contributed to the imprisonment of an individual. There was something so tragic but also surreal about this story.. She tested . She's no longer in prison, as Farak has served her sentence. She received the American Institute of Chemists Award in her final year as well as a Crimson and Gray Award from the school a year before, which recognized her dedication, commitment and unselfishness in the enrichment of student life at WPI. A Rolling Stone piece on Farak also indicated that she graduated with high distinction from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Audiences also hear from Farak's mother and sister who have never spoken to the press before. Kaczmarek has repeatedly testified she did not act intentionally and that she thought the worksheets had been turned over to the district attorneys who prosecuted the cases involved. An ex-lab chemist Sonja Farak's negligence and misdeeds shocked US when she was arrested in 2013 for stealing and using drugs from the lab where she worked. She has pledged to dismiss Suffolk County drug convictions an estimated 74,800 for anyone whose drug certification was done at the Hinton Lab between May 2003 and August 2012. Release year: 2020. Though viewers won't hear from Farak directly due to a pending civil case, the series paints a vivid picture of Farak's drug use through dramatization. Unfortunately, Stanley passed away in 2015. No wonder, she expresses an initial surprise upon learning that Sonja got addicted to drugs while working on her job. Penate argued the court should follow those findings. Farak was a former lab chemist at a lab in Amherst, Massachusetts and was convicted of stealing and using drugs from the lab where she worked. While not reporting, he enjoys long-distance running. YouTube I mean she could have been my client. Farak pleaded guilty in 2014 to stealing drugs and tampering with evidence, in addition to using crack cocaine and other drugs while analyzing evidence at the lab. Rick Sobey is a multimedia, general assignment reporter -- covering breaking news, politics and more across the region. They were all rendered unacceptable. While Farak kept her drug use isolated to work only at first, her use still spilled out. One of the reasons for the decrepit state and standard of the Amherst lab was the lack of funds. Hints of problems to come were not apparent as a child, at least not from the outside. The new four-part Netflix series tracks chemists Sonja Farak and Annie Dookhan, whose convictions for misconduct led to over 40,000 drug convictions being dismissed by the courts.