Over 650 investigative cases affected by DNA analyst’s data manipulation

Blog, Science

KOMORN LAW

STATE and FEDERAL
Aggressive Legal Defense
All Criminal Allegations / DUI / Drugs
Since 1993

652 cases between 2008 and 2023 are affected. 

Cases before that are still under review.

 A former DNA analyst with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) manipulated DNA results and “cut corners” – and as a result, all of her work at the agency over nearly 30 years has been called into question.

Those findings emerged from an internal affairs investigation that commenced in September and pertained to Yvonne “Missy” Woods, a devoted employee who has served the CBI faithfully for 29 years. This announcement was made by the agency on Friday.

and yet another Colorado lab

The Weld County Sheriff’s Office fired a DNA analyst, who worked at a local lab for over 10 years, after an investigation found “anomalies” in her work. FOX31’s Talya Cunningham hears from a legal expert about what this could mean for the cases involved.

Thousands of Criminal Cases in New York Relied on Disputed DNA Testing Techniques

New York City’s crime lab has been a pioneer nationally in analyzing especially difficult DNA samples. But the recent disclosure of the source code for its proprietary software is raising new questions about accuracy.

Read More Here

Unlike finicky fingerprints and frowned-upon fiber analysis, DNA evidence has been the most bulletproof evidence for forensic sciences in recent years. But staffers at a research firm in Israel have recently upended the presumed infallibility of this forensics golden child—by making it themselves. Nucleix, a Tel-Aviv-based life sciences company, was able to create credible DNA evidence that could be used to finger the wrong person, proof that even genetic evidence can be manipulated (beyond planting a hair or used cigarette) just like other physical traces. “You can just engineer a crime scene,” 

Read More Here

Drug-Testing Company Used in Child Custody Cases Investigated for Fraud

The DOJ investigated Averhealth, emails reviewed by VICE News show, after the company’s ex-lab director testified up to 30 percent of its results in Michigan were wrong.

Read More

Drug felonies without credible proof? — Allegations of politicking in state police crime labs

First on FOX 17, we broke serious allegations that state police crime labs are being told to falsely report marijuana test results. This is resulting in misleading lab reports that an attorney claims creates felonies without real proof.

Attorney Michael Komorn believes a recent policy change in the way Michigan State Police forensic science crime labs report marijuana may have led to years of wrongful convictions.
Komorn called this a “perversion of science,” and “crime labs turned crime factories:” accusations that politics are trumping forensic science by escalating misdemeanor marijuana charges into felonies without proof.

Read More Here

More than 3,000 cases may have been impacted by inaccuracy of MSP’s marijuana testing

(WXYZ) — The Michigan State Police say more than three thousand cases involving alleged marijuana impairment could have been false positives. Last week, the MSP Forensic Science Division announced they were halting all testing of marijuana drug samples due to the possibility that the tests were positive for CBD, rather than just THC. The state police warned prosecutors not to rely on the THC toxicology results until they could learn more about the alleged problems in the testing.

THC is the psychoactive compound in marijuana. CBD is a chemical found in marijuana that does not produce a high, and CBD has not been considered a controlled substance in Michigan since March 28, 2019.

Read More Here

Attorney Michael Komorn

Attorney Michael Komorn

State / Federal Legal Defense

With extensive experience in criminal legal defense since 1993 from pre-arrest, District, Circuit, Appeals, Supreme and the Federal court systems.

KOMORN LAW (248) 357-2550

Related Articles

THC Detection in Blood: Challenges and Implications

THC Detection in Blood: Challenges and Implications

THC Detection in Blood: Challenges and Implications When it comes to enforcing drugged driving laws, police and employers face a unique challenge with marijuana. Unlike alcohol, which is metabolized and eliminated relatively quickly, THC, the psychoactive compound in...

THC Detection in Blood: A Comprehensive Review

THC Detection in Blood: A Comprehensive Review

THC Detection in Blood: A Comprehensive Review Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, can remain detectable in the blood for several days or even weeks after use. This is due to the fact that THC is highly fat-soluble, meaning that it...

More Posts

Restoring Second Amendment Rights in Michigan

Restoring Second Amendment Rights in Michigan

Restoring Your Gun RightsAs of 4/17/24...There is still a second amendment The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution grants citizens the right to bear arms, a fundamental aspect of American freedoms. However, in some cases, just like every other right...

read more
Disciplining Student’s Speech Violates First Amendment

Disciplining Student’s Speech Violates First Amendment

You go girl!!!A public high school was found to have violated the First Amendment when it suspended a student from her cheerleading team for using profane speech off campus. Mahanoy Area Sch Dist v BL, No 20-255, ___ US ___ (June 23, 2021). The U.S. Supreme Court has...

read more
Cannabis cash transactions aren’t suspicious says IRS

Cannabis cash transactions aren’t suspicious says IRS

Following The MoneyLarge cash transactions by marijuana businesses should not be automatically flagged as suspicious, as per the latest IRS guidance. The tax agency's guidance aims to provide clarity on the federal Bank Secrecy Act, which mandates businesses,...

read more
An Independent Review of the Intoxilyzer 9000

An Independent Review of the Intoxilyzer 9000

An Independent Review of the Intoxilyzer 9000 Part 1 - Residual mouth alcohol detection Counterpoint Volume 2; Issue 2 - Article 3 (August 2017) An article in the Core Skills III-2 Module Jan Semenoff, BA, EMAForensic CriminalistThe opportunity to conduct an...

read more
The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 1)

The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 1)

The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 1 of 2)Roll-Out The Michigan State Police (MSP) initiated Intoxilyzer 9000 (Intoxilyzer) training for police officers statewide, commencing in 2023. In order to participate, officers were required to complete both preliminary breath test...

read more
The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 2)

The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 2)

The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 2 of 2)Using it The Intoxilyzer is user-friendly and equipped with a built-in feature to alert officers of any potential issues. As a precautionary measure, officers are specifically advised to switch off their portable radios prior to...

read more

Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorneys in Michigan

Defense Attorney that goes on the Offense to Win your Case.
Call Komorn Law

More

A visit with a kick

A visit with a kick

POW - Right in the Kisser. Businesses watch out for the lawA Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain was hit with a lawsuit by the Biden administration at the same time...

Michael Komorn-Criminal Defense Attorney

About Your Attorney

Attorney Michael Komorn

Categories

Law Firm VIctories

Your Rights

Share This