RIGGEDLabs Podcast

Jamie Folk
  • 4.6 (22)
  • TRUE CRIME

On September 28, 2012, Massachusetts state chemist Annie Dookhan was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and falsification of academic records. Approximately four months later another chemist, Sonja Farak, was arrested for using the drugs she was supposed to be testing and the Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal was born. Hosts Jamie Folk and Ilyas Rona will be exploring the William H Hinton, UMass Amherst and State Police crime labs associated with this scandal and speak with the lawyers whose clients rights were violated as a result of the fraud committed by the chemists in these labs. Through their investigation of this case, Folk and Rona have found that the crimes of Dookhan and Farak were just the tip of the iceberg and that multiple chemists from three state labs lied on the stand, knowingly sent people to jail for possessing drugs that were not illegal and wanted to help law enforcement send as many people to jail as possible. Jamie Folk is an independent journal who has been investigating this case since Dookhan's arrest was first reported. He has obtained over 70k documents from the state and has interviewed several lawyers, journalists, politicians, law enforcement officials and others connected with the case over the past 7 years. Ilyas Rona is a lawyer who represented a man sent to prison by Dookhan and another Hinton lab chemist for possessing what turned out to be a cashew for two years. He has been investigating the Hinton, Amherst and State Police labs ever since. Season 3 begins the exploration of cases outside of Massachusetts in the hope of shining a light on other drug lab scandals throughout the country.

  1. 12/13/2025

    Exciting News from RIGGEDLabs Podcast: Announcing RIGGEDLabs Membership on Patreon!

    In this short and solo episode, RIGGEDLabs Podcast Host, Jamie Folk, announces RIGGEDLabs the membership options on Patreon. We've come a long way since launching RIGGEDLabs Podcast back in 2020, diving deep into the Massachusetts drug lab scandals that shattered lives and exposed systemic failures in the US criminal justice system. From the shocking revelations about Annie Dookhan at the Hinton Lab, to the Amherst Lab issues, and the broader implications across state police crime labs—we've uncovered stories that demand public attention. And now, with RIGGEDLabs Season 3 underway, we're expanding our lens to drug lab scandals nationwide, starting with cases like the San Francisco OCME analyst Justin Volk, the earlier Deborah Madden scandal, the Braintree Police Department evidence room scandal and the case of George Hunter White. This work isn't easy. Investigative journalism, interviewing experts, obtaining documents, and producing high-quality episodes takes time, resources, energy, and unwavering commitment. That's why we're thrilled to announce that RIGGEDLabs is now on Patreon! LISTEN to Jamie Folk introducing RIGGEDLabs membership options on Patreon! Patreon.com/cw/RIGGEDLabsRIGGEDLabs Membership options come in three tiers to fit every level of support, with exclusive perks to thank you for standing with us: Membership Option 1: $5/month or $60/year Membership Option 2: $10/month or $120/year Membership Option 3: $25/month or $300/year Other ways to join RIGGEDLabs as a member are also available if you prefer to give your support via PayPal, Venmo, with Debit/Credit card, or with check by mail. Details on our website. Head over to RIGGEDLabs Patreon page today and join the community that's driving real change in Massachusetts and across the nation. Thank you for listening, sharing our episodes, and believing in this cause. Together, we can expose the truth, push for accountability, and advocate for justice and relief. Stay vigilant and connected with RIGGEDLabs on Patreon, and on our web, blog, and social sites. FOLLOW RIGGEDLabs Podcast on X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, a href="Threads.com/@RIGGEDLabs" rel="noopener...

    10 min
  2. RIGGEDLabs UNRIGGED! Podcast | S3 E2 -Justin Volk Case Overview

    10/20/2025

    RIGGEDLabs UNRIGGED! Podcast | S3 E2 -Justin Volk Case Overview

    Welcome to RIGGEDLabs UNRIGGED! Podcast | Season 3 Episode 2. In this episode we will review the case of San Francisco lab analyst Justin Volk. Season 3 of RIGGEDLabs Podcast—hosted by investigative journalist Jamie Folk and attorney Ilyas Rona, premieres on November 1, 2025, with weekly episodes available on all major podcast and social platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the podcast's official website RIGGEDLabs.com The new season dives deep into the 2020 arrest of OCME lab analyst Justin Volk—The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who was caught in Utah with a sealed evidence bag containing methamphetamine stolen from the very lab he worked in for over a decade. This incident, which potentially tainted thousands of criminal cases—from sexual assaults and DUIs to overdose investigations—exposed a web of lax oversight, ignored protocols, and systemic failures that echoed the fraud and tampering scandals the podcast first uncovered in Massachusetts. "Five years after Justin Volk's arrest rocked San Francisco's justice system, the full story remains buried under bureaucratic cover-ups and unaddressed reforms," said Mr. James Folk. "Just like Annie Dookhan and Sonja Farak rigged evidence in Massachusetts drug labs, sending innocent people to prison and eroding public trust, the OCME scandal reveals how forensic labs nationwide prioritize speed over integrity. We're bringing exclusive interviews with whistleblowers, affected families, and legal experts to light the path to accountability."Attorney Rona added, "This isn't just about one bad actor — it's about a broken machine. Volk handled up to 25,000 cases, including toxicology tests for 1,200 sexual assaults. Our investigation will reveal how management lowered hiring standards, allowed drug evidence to pile up unchecked, and ignored red flags, much like the Hinton and Amherst labs we exposed in earlier seasons. The parallels are chilling, and the consequences for justice are devastating." The third season will feature groundbreaking reporting, including never-before-heard audio from internal OCME audits, analysis of the San Francisco District Attorney's review that flagged over 2,500 compromised cases, and discussions on the office's loss of national accreditation amid backlogs and mishandled evidence. Episodes will also explore broader implications, such as the 2010 SFPD lab scandal involving technician Deborah Madden, who admitted to skimming cocaine, leading to hundreds of dismissed cases. To sustain this vital work and expand beyond Massachusetts, RIGGEDLabs Podcast is launching simultaneously—with its Season 3—a funding campaign to allow supporters and patrons to help with in-depth probes and to be rewarded with early episode access, bonus content, exclusive Q&A sessions with the hosts, and more. RIGGED Lab Massachusetts podcast — re-branded RIGGEDLabs UNRIGGED! Podcast to reflect new expanded mission, has garnered critical acclaim for its exhaustive coverage of the Annie Dookhan and Sonja Farak cases, which resulted in over 37,000 vacated convictions and inspired the Netflix series ’How to Fix a Drug Scandal’. With the Season 3, the podcast cements its role as the premier voice exposing forensic labs frauds in America. Join the conversation! Follow @RIGGEDLabs on social media.

    45 min

  3. 10/18/2025

    RIGGEDLabs Podcast | Season 3 Press Release - Introduce and Read by Jamie Folk

    In this first episode of RIGGEDLabs Podcast Season 3, Jamie Folk introduces a new season and reads the new press release. - RIGGEDLabs SEASON 3 PRESS RELEASEContact Information: RIGGED: RIGGED Lab Massachusetts Podcast Mr. Jamie Folk +1-774-291-9493 | Phone ThePodcast@RIGGEDLabs.com | email Release Date: October 10, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Returning For Season 3 To Uncovering Nationwide Drug Labs Scandals Across the United States of America. Boston, MA – October 10, 2025 – The award-winning investigative podcast—RIGGED Lab Massachusetts podcast announces today the launch of its highly anticipated third season, shifting its unflinching lens nationwide to expose the shocking malfeasance in drug labs across the nation. In a bold expansion of its mission to hold forensic systems accountable. The podcast is also launching a new unified platform and campaign to fund in-depth probes into drug lab scandals across the United States. Season 3 of RIGGED: ThePodcast—hosted by investigative journalist Jamie Folk and attorney Ilyas Rona, will premiere on November 1, 2025, with weekly episodes available on all major podcast and social platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the podcast's official website RIGGEDLabs.com The new season dives deep into the 2020 arrest of OCME lab analyst Justin Volk—The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who was caught in Utah with a sealed evidence bag containing methamphetamine stolen from the very lab he worked in for over a decade. This incident, which potentially tainted thousands of criminal cases—from sexual assaults and DUIs to overdose investigations—exposed a web of lax oversight, ignored protocols, and systemic failures that echoed the fraud and tampering scandals the podcast first uncovered in Massachusetts. "Five years after Justin Volk's arrest rocked San Francisco's justice system, the full story remains buried under bureaucratic cover-ups and unaddressed reforms," said Mr. Folk. "Just like Annie Dookhan and Sonja Farak rigged evidence in Massachusetts drug labs, sending innocent people to prison and eroding public trust, the OCME scandal reveals how forensic labs nationwide prioritize speed over integrity. We're bringing exclusive interviews with whistleblowers, affected families, and legal experts to light the path to accountability." Attorney Rona added, "This isn't just about one bad actor — it's about a broken machine. Volk handled up to 25,000 cases, including toxicology tests for 1,200 sexual assaults. Our investigation will reveal how management lowered hiring standards, allowed drug evidence to pile up unchecked, and ignored red flags, much like the Hinton and Amherst labs we exposed in earlier seasons. The parallels are chilling, and the consequences for justice are devastating." The third season will feature groundbreaking reporting, including never-before-heard audio from internal OCME audits, analysis of the San Francisco District Attorney's review that flagged over 2,500 compromised cases, and discussions on the office's loss of national accreditation amid backlogs and mishandled evidence. Episodes will also explore broader implications, such as the 2010 SFPD lab scandal involving technician Deborah Madden, who admitted to skimming cocaine, leading to hundreds of dismissed cases. To sustain this vital work and expand beyond Massachusetts, RIGGED: ThePodcast is launching simultaneously—with its Season 3—a funding campaign to allow supporters and patrons to help with in-depth probes and to be rewarded with early episode access, bonus content, exclusive Q&A sessions with the hosts, and more. "True justice requires relentless pursuit

    11 min

  4. 03/19/2023

    Civil Asset Forfeiture AKA Legal Theft

    Ilyas and Jamie take a break from the drug lab to do a deep dive into what drives the state to fight their war on drug addicted people. Civil Assist Forfeiture is just a new rendition of the ancient practice of state run overlords using force backed by unfair laws to harass and steal from poor people. Ilyas traces the practice back to the Magna Carta but it certainly predates that. Today police use the principal to take money from the people who the arrest for drug use and distribution to take all of their cash, cars and property. This cash is then used to buy things that don't need to be approved by legislative bodies or reported at all. Boston was caught using this money to buy face recognition technology and placing cameras around the city to spy on its citizens.

    1h 22m

  5. 02/21/2023

    RIGGED: Massachusetts' Hinton State Lab Scandal, Part 7 of 7, Operations of the rigged forensic lab

    The Massachusetts Inspector General (OIG) made criminal referrals for multiple Hinton Lab Chemists, Supervisors and the Lab Director. They did this while never publicly admitting it. They also knowingly lied to the public when they said in their 2014 report on the Massachusetts' William A Hinton State Laboratory Institute that Annie Dookhan was the lone bad actor at the Hinton Laboratory. Podcast hosts Jamie, Ilyas and Chris examine these newly unearthed criminal referrals from as far back as 2013 and going all the way up to 2015. They also look at evidence uncovered by Jamie that indicates that the Massachusetts State Police Lab also engaged in behavior that the Inspector General thought was egregious enough to refer Hinton Chemists for Criminal Referrals. No referrals have been made for any chemist outside of Sonja Farak who did not work in the Hinton Lab in spite of the State Police and Amherst chemists engaging in the same behavior that got Hinton chemists into trouble with the OIG. This is a developing story, and we divulge information in this episode that no news organization has yet to uncover. Please note, this episode was renamed. Formerly, it was titled 'OIG Criminal Referrals for Multiple Hinton Chemists and Lab Director' Thank you for listening to RIGGED: Massachusetts' William A Hinton State Laboratory Institute Scandal, Part 7 of 7, Operations of the rigged forensic lab, OIG Criminal Referrals for Multiple Lab Chemists and Director. This episode is part of a series of 10 episodes uncovering the scandal of rigged lab chemists, supervisors, and director at the Massachusetts' William A Hinton, MD State Laboratory Institute in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the US. We invite you to listen to the previous episodes in this series. Hey, Are you a law professor, law student, researcher, or a member of the academic community seeking to understand how rigged forensic laboratories operate in the US criminal justice system? You belong to the RIGGEDLabs Podcast Community! Join us for community and awareness building, for advocacy, hope, healing, justice, and relief. Visit RIGGEDLabs Podcast web, blog, and social sites @RIGGEDLabs to reach out. Consider becoming A Community Member today.

    1h 44m

  6. 02/16/2023

    Criminal Charges Recommending for Chemists Lying about Drug Classifications and Rigged Testing

    So the Massachusetts Inspector General's Office told all the DAs in the state that they were recommending criminal charges against multiple chemists in the Hinton Lab not just Annie Dookhan. They made these recommendations way back in 2014 and 2015 and the DAs did nothing. The Inspector General then knowingly lied to the public and when they told them that Dookhan was the lone back actor at the Hinton Drug Lab in the conclusion of their report. The blatant lying displayed here by the state is truly astounding and there has been zero accountability.

    1h 20m

  7. 02/15/2023

    RIGGED: Massachusetts Hinton State Lab Scandal - Part 6 of 7, Operations of the rigged forensic lab

    We have been saying it for years but now, thanks to the release of new documents from the OIG, we know that the OIG wanted to charge multiple employees of the drug lab not named Annie Dookhan with criminal misconduct. We discuss these new developments and where the case, and the podcast, are going. Amazing that there is still new news on this case that is over ten years old. Please note, this episode was renamed. Formerly, it was titled 'OIG Finally Admits Dookhan isn't the lone bad actor' Thank you for listening to RIGGED: Massachusetts' William A Hinton State Laboratory Institute Scandal - Part 6 of 7, Operations of the rigged forensic lab, OIG Finally Admits Dookhan isn't the lone bad actor. We invite you to listen to the next and final Part 7 of 7 in this series. This episode is part of a series of 10 episodes uncovering the scandal of rigged lab chemists, supervisors, and lab director at the William A Hinton, MD State Laboratory Institute Scandal in Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts. Hey, Are you a victim or survivor of rigged sciences or forensic labs? You belong to the RIGGEDLabs Survivors' Community! Join us for community and awareness building, for advocacy, hope, healing, justice, and relief. Visit RIGGEDLabs Podcast website, blog, and social sites @RIGGEDLabs to reach out. Consider becoming A Community Member.

    1h 9m

  8. 11/25/2022

    We Swear The Worcester PD Aren't Tyrants

    As a police officer, how do you prove to a pastor who calls you a tyrant that you are, indeed, not a tyrant? If your name is Worcester Police Officer Michael Cappabianca Jr. it's simple. You taser the living shit out the priest inside his church and then throw a pregnant woman to the ground. You then arrest the pastor and his son and make up several charges that didn't happen. How could anyone ever consider this man to be a tyrant?! Today's episode has independent journalist Bill Shaner, Andrew Quemere and Chris Post talking all things Worcester PD and how the city enables its police to be truly terrible.

    1 hr
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Trailer

4.6
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

On September 28, 2012, Massachusetts state chemist Annie Dookhan was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and falsification of academic records. Approximately four months later another chemist, Sonja Farak, was arrested for using the drugs she was supposed to be testing and the Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal was born. Hosts Jamie Folk and Ilyas Rona will be exploring the William H Hinton, UMass Amherst and State Police crime labs associated with this scandal and speak with the lawyers whose clients rights were violated as a result of the fraud committed by the chemists in these labs. Through their investigation of this case, Folk and Rona have found that the crimes of Dookhan and Farak were just the tip of the iceberg and that multiple chemists from three state labs lied on the stand, knowingly sent people to jail for possessing drugs that were not illegal and wanted to help law enforcement send as many people to jail as possible. Jamie Folk is an independent journal who has been investigating this case since Dookhan's arrest was first reported. He has obtained over 70k documents from the state and has interviewed several lawyers, journalists, politicians, law enforcement officials and others connected with the case over the past 7 years. Ilyas Rona is a lawyer who represented a man sent to prison by Dookhan and another Hinton lab chemist for possessing what turned out to be a cashew for two years. He has been investigating the Hinton, Amherst and State Police labs ever since. Season 3 begins the exploration of cases outside of Massachusetts in the hope of shining a light on other drug lab scandals throughout the country.

Information

  • Creator
    Jamie Folk
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jamie Folk
  • Show Website
    RIGGEDLabs Podcast