NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A New York veterinarian and two horse trainers received their prison sentences after pleading guilty to felony drug misbranding and adulteration charges in a widespread horse doping scheme for which 27 people were arrested, prosecutors said Wednesday.
For years, 65-year-old Louis Grasso, a veterinarian from Pine Bush, would prescribe powerful and medically unnecessary performance enhancing drugs in exchange for payment, officials said.
Grasso also created, distributed and administered custom-made drug combinations which were misbranded and adulterated substances in orde to improve a racehorse’s performance. Grasso sold these drugs to corrupt trainers who would give him a cut of the prize money when their horse won. He collected over $47 million from prize winnings, according to court documents.
Two of those trainers were 47-year-old Richard Banca of Middletown and 35-year-old Rene Allard of Canada.
Banca and Allard bought and administered the drugs to racehorses, collecting about $16 million and $25 million in prize winnings, respectively, as a result. Not only were they earning a profit from the prize money, they also were able to improve their horses’ racing records to justify higher trainer fees and more horses under their control.
“Illegally doping racehorses is animal abuse in the service of greed. Such corruption threatens the health of racehorses and undermines the integrity of the sport,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “Today, three defendants have been sentenced for their roles in perpetuating, and profiting from, the mistreatment of animals. The sentences each defendant received appropriately reflects the seriousness of these offenses in the eyes of the law.”
Grasso was sentenced to 50 months in prison, Banca was sentenced to 30 months in prison and Allard was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Grasso must also pay $47,656,576 in restitution.
Related
Related
