Mass. Lab Chemist Faces New Drug Theft Charges

BOSTON (AP) — An Amherst state crime lab chemist accused of stealing drug evidence faces new charges.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said 35-year-old Sonja Farak of Northampton was indicted Monday on four counts of theft of a controlled substance, four counts of tampering with evidence, and two counts of possession of a Class B substance.

Farak pleaded not guilty in January to two counts of evidence tampering and drug possession.

Prosecutors say in two cases, Farak mixed drug evidence with counterfeit drugs to hide her theft. In two others, the drugs were missing. Investigators say they found material believed to be cocaine at her work station and in her car, and also found counterfeit material like that added to the samples.

Farak's case isn't connected with that of Annie Dookhan, who's accused of faking test results at a Boston lab.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.