2014/04/15
Associated Press April 11, 2014: Drug tampering at Florida lab prompts changes
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - Florida prosecutors will drop some drug cases and more closely scrutinize drug evidence after a former state crime lab analyst was accused of stealing narcotics from evidence bags, replacing them with over-the-counter medicine.
State attorneys throughout Florida said it remains unclear how many cases will be dropped because of Joseph Graves‘ alleged thefts. Evidence seized by 80 law enforcement agencies in 35 of Florida’s 67 counties may have been compromised.
“This has created a very difficult burden on our entire office. A very significant amount of manpower has been devoted to this,” said State Attorney Bill Eddins, who said investigators have reviewed more than 2,600 cases Graves handled since 2006 and have found 53 in Eddins‘ district where drug evidence appears to have been compromised. more