The federal trial of trainer Jason Servis has been postponed until the first quarter of 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil revealed during a status conference on Jan. 24, 2022.
According to bloodhorse.com, the delay is due to both coronavirus-related restrictions in scheduling and a scheduling conflict for Servis' attorney, Rita Glavin, who this summer will represent former President Donald Trump's former chief financial officer against fraud charges in New York State court.
Servis was among 27 people indicted on federal charges on March 9, 2020, in connection with the use of performance-enhancing drugs on racehorses. He was charged with one count of drug adulteration and misbranding by using a network of veterinarians, assistant trainers, and other trainers (including Navarro) to acquire and use PEDs on his horses, including multiple graded stakes winner Maximum Security.
Servis was also named in a superseding indictment released on Nov. 6, 2020. Along with veterinarians Dr. Kristian Rhein and Alexander Chan, Servis was charged with mail and wire fraud conspiracy for using the U.S. mail to distribute and receive misbranded or adulterated drugs.
The former trainer, currently free on bond, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Meanwhile, Judge Vyskocil ordered defendant Lisa Gianelli, a sales representative for convicted veterinarian Seth Fishman, to trial in May or June of this year. She had been on trial in January, but a mistrial was declared when her attorney tested positive COVID.
Judge Vyskocil also ordered that both veterinarian Dr. Erica Garcia and former Jorge Navarro employee Michael Tannuzzo stand trial in December.
Read more at bloodhorse.com.
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