RMTC

Feds charge 4 veterinarians with illegally giving drugs to race horses at Penn National

By Matt Miller

A month after a trainer was sent to prison for doping horses at Penn National Race Course, federal investigators have charged four veterinarians with illegally administering drugs to horses at the track on race days.

Two of the accused vets are from the midstate: Dr. Fernando Motta, 44, of Lancaster, and Dr. Renee Nodine, 52, of Annville. Also charged in the U.S. Middle District Court cases are Dr. Kevin Brophy, 60, of Florida, and Dr. Christopher Korte, 43, of Pueblo, Colorado.

U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith said Friday that each vet is accused of administering drugs to race horses within 24 hours of when the steeds were scheduled to race at the East Hanover Township track. That violated state laws that bar the rigging of public exhibitions, Smith said, and also breached federal prohibitions against administering drugs to animals without valid prescriptions.

The alleged violations occurred between 1986 and August 2014, he said. He added that the veterinarians are accused of conspiring with horse trainers.

All four veterinarians have tentative agreements with prosecutors that require them to plead guilty and cooperate with what Smith said is an ongoing investigation by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the state police.

Investigators claim trainers would place orders for drugs and the vets would administer the medications and then back-date the billing records to hide when the drugs were given to the horses. The vets also submitted false treatment reports to the Horse Racing Commission, the charges state.

In charging documents, the four are accused of illegally giving horses anti-inflammatory medications used to treat lameness and drugs for stomach ulcers. Brophy is accused of committing such violations from 1986 to May 2012, Korte from May 2010 to August 2014, Motta from November 2005 to August 2014, and Nodine from July 1992 to August 2014.

The charges of conspiracy and misbranding drugs by unlawful prescription lodged against the vets carry penalties of up to 2 years in prison and a $200,000 fine, Smith said. The tentative plea agreements do not state what penalties the vets would receive if their guilty pleas are accepted.

Attempts to reach Motta and Nodine for comment were not immediately successful.