The latest true crime series from Netflix follows one of the most notorious scandals to ever hit law enforcement in the US.
Documentary series How To Fix a Drug Scandal follows crime drug lab chemists Sonja Farak and Annie Dookhan and how each of their own unique levels of misconduct impacted thousands of cases and resulted in chaos for the legal system.
The pair's actions saw around 44,000 drug convictions overturned and resulted in prison sentences for the pair.
Sonja Farak's actions also tell a tragic but riveting tale of addiction and how far it can push a person.
But what happened next to the former lab chemist?
What did Sonja Farak do?
Sonja Farak was a chemist at a state drug lab in Amherst, Massachusetts, from 2005 to 2013.
Her role was to test for the presence of illegal substances, which could be instrumental in thousands of drug related legal cases.
However, throughout her time at the lab, Sonja was habitually abusing these substances for personal use and carried out her role whilst high on liquid methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD and even crack.
Not only did she do this in the lab, but also in court whilst testifying in relation to cases.
Farak also used her position in the lab to manufacture her own drugs for personal use.
"I was smoking in the lab, I was smoking at home. I actually smoked in the evidence room. I was totally controlled by my addiction," she revealed in the documentary.
Sonja had stolen samples from her colleagues' tests and amended the lab database to cover her tracks.
She had suffered from mental health issues throughout her life and, according to Rolling Stone, had tried to kill herself in High School.
After eight years at the lab, Sonja was finally caught out and arrested for her actions.
Sonja had been smoking crack on her lunch break and was asked to take a drug test, which tested positive.
A search of her bag later showed the ingredients for cooking her own cocaine: baking soda, candle wax, and modeling clay, along with utensils that she could use to make it.
After searching her work station, they found a vial of oxycodone and 11.7 grams of cocaine, along with kits to use crack.
She had also kept a detailed daily record of her substance abuse for a drug counsellor, which noted that she used
She was ultimately sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2014.
Between Farak and Annie Dookhan, over 47,000 drug convictions were overturned, sending them to retrials.
Where is Sonja Farak now?
Sonja Farak was released on parole in 2016 and has remained out of the spotlight ever since.
She has since been one of 18 defendants facing a lawsuit by Rolando Penate, who claims they committed "intentional infliction of emotional distress in addition to the conspiracy to violate [Penate’s] civil rights.”
In 2019, Sonja was seen leaving Springfield Federal Court but declined to speak to press.
Now that her case has been brought into the public eye again since Netflix released How To Fix a Drug Scandal, many will be wondering what has happened to her.
The documentary's director Erin Lee Carr revealed to Women's Health that she had actually met with Sonja to discuss the four-part series.
Carr revealed: "She isn't on drugs anymore, and I think that that is incredible.
"[Farak] was somebody that dealt with a very intense, high-level addiction, faced a lot of legal consequences, and the fact that she is still living and shaking and figuring stuff out... I find that everyone needs to be given a second chance."
How to Fix a Drug Scandal is available now on Netflix.
