How To Fix A Drug Scandal
How To Fix A Drug Scandal
The docu-series, How to Fix a Drug Scandal was produced by Alex Gibney and directed by an American filmmaker, Erin Lee Carr who also piloted the popular TV series "Dirty Money." She also helmed "Mommy Dead and Dearest."
The TV documentary series shows the intriguing case of Sonja Farak. Sonja Farak was a drug lab expert who was working as a lab technician in Amherst, Massachusetts and became addicted to the substances she was supposed to test. The documentary series looks at her trial and how her actions impacted those convicted of crimes based on her testing.
About
The series follows the shocking crimes of two drug laboratory chemists and blurs the lines of justice for prosecutors, officials and thousands of inmates.
The mini series runs for about 3h 31min and is a part of the documentary and crime genres.
Plot Summary
In 2013, Massachusetts State Police arrested 35 years old drug lab chemist Sonja Farak for altering evidence. Over time after the arrest, details became clear that Farak had also been using the drugs that she was entrusted with testing. The extent of Farak's addiction and the number of individuals indicted because of her drug testing comes to light, in defiance of repeated efforts to stifle evidence.
The four-part documentary series directed by Erin Lee Carr examines the basic, but obscured, part of the criminal justice system. Additionally it contains re-creations of Farak's convincing grand jury testimony and interviews with attorneys and experts. Farak's family also speaks on how the actions of one crime lab technician can affect countless lives.
Cast and Crew
Scott Allen as Journalist, The Boston Globe
Karl Kenzler as Lawyer
Daniel Marx as Defense Attorney
Shawn Musgrave as Investigative Reporter
Shannon O'Neill as Sonja Farak
Jared Olanoff as Defense Attorney
Luke Ryan as Deffense Attorney
Paul Solotaroff as Journalist, Rolling Stone
David Sullivan as Northwestern District Attorney
Daniel Conley as Former District Attorney
Amy Farak as Sonja Farak's Sister
Linda Farak as Sonja Farak's Mother
Maura Healey as Massachusetts Attorney General
Matt Segal as Legal Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts
Madelyn Vazquez as Rafael's Wife
Robin Whitney as Former Massachusetts State Police
Deborah Becker as Journalist, WBUR-FM
James Connolly as Former Massachusetts State Police
Jorge Diaz as Defendant
Ronaldo Peñate as Defendant
Rafael Rodriguez Jr. as Rafael's Son
Millieonie Rodriguez as Rafael's Daughter
Buffy Spencer as Legal Journalist
Heather Harris as Forensic Chemist
George Papachristos as Former Assistant District Attorney
Produced by
Celia Aniskovich... co-producer
Will Cohen... series producer
Ted Gesing... Recreation Producer
Matt Ochacher... executive producer
Michael Pelmont... executive producer
Brian Volk-Weiss... executive producer
Music by Ian Hultquist
Cinematography by Bryan Sarkinen and Shane Sigler
Film Editing by Ben Gold and Alexis Johnson
Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Angarone... grip
Nolan Ball... assistant camera
Benjamin Boult... camera operator
Michael Grantland... additional camera
Edward Herrera... grip
Corey Hess... A Cam 1st Assistant Camera
Keith Heyward... additional camera
Christian Johnson... C Cam 1st Assistant Camera
Thomas Kane... 1st Assistant: B Camera
Ronan Killeen... additional camera
Robert Ko... assistant camera
Julia Liu... additional camera
Ariel Nehorayoff... gaffer
Dan Peck... gaffer
Glenn Porter... key grip
Edwin Rubio... assistant camera
Dan White... gaffer
Editorial Department
Drew Kilgore... Digital Intermediate Manager
Other crew
Justin Ellis... researcher
Robert Stein... counsel
Episode Guide
How to Fix a Drug Scandal (2020) currently has four aired episodes.
Episode 1
Damning Evidence uncovers the addiction of drug lab technician Sonja Farak. A scandal erupts, which raises questions for the thousands of defendants in her cases.
Episode 2
Top state lab chemist Annie Dookhan falls from grace over blatant fraud and unsettling emails with prosecutors. The path to Farak's trail begins.
Episode 3
The disconcerting confessions of Farak reveals a broken system. Annie Dookhan takes the fall in court,yet suspicions of a high-level cover-up grow stronger.
Episode 4
The American Civil Liberties Union and defense attorneys fight for justice in the tainted cases as the authorities and the public bear the overwhelming magnitude of the fallout.