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NYPD Lab Tech Misplaces, Mislabels Drugs
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 27, 2011
Modified Jun 27, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 27, 2011
Modified Jun 27, 2011
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Good news if you've been charged with drug possession in the past 18 months: your lab technician may have totally mishandled your stash and sweet Lady Loophole could come to your rescue. Lab tech Marlem Megalla allegedly made more than a hundred mistakes in her last 50 evidence tests, and an investigation by the Queens DA has revealed that Megalla has mislabeled, incorrectly weighed, and flat out lost many of the drugs she was supposed to test. All while continuing to receive her $69,000 annual salary, the Post reports.
Attorney Darius Wadia is defending a Harlem man accused of selling crack, but a large portion of the drugs his client is charged with possessing has vanished: "More than a quarter of the same disappeared," Wadia says, "as if two of the eight crack rocks they charged him [with dealing] have vanished." 30 samples of heroin and marijuana went untested when Megella said they had been. Authorities are backtracking to make up for the tech's mistakes in an initiative named "Megalla Corrective Action."
So far however, the paper isn't sure if any of Megalla's mistakes have gotten any criminals off the hook. Meanwhile, Megalla's lawyer says that his client "never did anything [criminally] wrong."
Tagged
crack cocaine
crimes
drugs
ineptitude
manhattan
nypd
queens
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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