Former Drug Company Manager Pleads Guilty To Stealing, Reselling Thousands Of Bottles Of Adequan

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York released the following statement Friday, Dec. 4 about a guilty plea entered by Gregory Settino, 58, of Bethpage, N.Y.: 

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, Gregory Settino pleaded guilty to theft of medical products from his employer, a drug manufacturer in Suffolk County.  When sentenced, Settino faces up to 20 years in prison, restitution to his former employer and a fine of up to $250,000.  Today's proceeding took place before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent-in-Charge, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office (FDA-OCI), announced the guilty plea.

“With today's guilty plea, Settino has been held accountable for stealing from his then-employer thousands of bottles of an injectable drug administered to horses, which he resold to trainers and vets potentially endangering the health of horses at New York racetracks because the stolen drugs were not handled properly,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “This Office will vigorously prosecute those who jeopardized drug safety.”

“The FDA works to ensure that veterinary drugs are safe and effective so that animals remain healthy.  When drugs are taken out of the legitimate supply chain, there is no longer any assurance that they are safe or effective,” stated FDA-OCI Special Agent-in-Charge Ebersole.  “The FDA remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice those who endanger the health of animals.”

As set forth in court filings and facts admitted in court, Settino was the production supervisor of manufacturing at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Shirley, New York.  In January 2019, Luitpold was renamed American Regent.  One of the products manufactured at Luitpold and American Regent was Adequan, an injectable equine drug administered to horses with degenerative joint disease and sold throughout the United States.  Between 2012 and January 2020, Settino stole thousands of bottles of Adequan from Luitpold and American Regent valued at over $1 million and sold those drugs to horse trainers and veterinarians at New York racetracks, including Belmont Park, for more than $600,000.  Settino's conduct potentially endangered the health of horses because the drugs were not maintained, stored or transported in accordance with proper procedures for ensuring the safety, effectiveness and efficacy of the drugs.  At times, Settino transported the drugs in shoeboxes stored in his car.  At all times, the drugs were handled in violation of the FDA regulated supply chain.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is in charge of the prosecution.

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Former Drug Company Employee Indicted On Federal Charges After Allegedly Stealing Thousands Of Bottles Of Joint Medication

An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Central Islip charging Gregory Settino with theft of medical products and making a false statement to a federal agent. Settino was arrested today and arraigned this afternoon via teleconference before United States Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay. Settino was released on a $250,000 bond.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent-in-Charge, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office (FDA-OCI), announced the arrest and charges.

“As alleged, Settino abused his supervisory position at a pharmaceuticals company to steal large quantities of equine drugs in order to enrich himself and without regard for how his sale of the medical products could potentially endanger the health of horses,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “The defendant then allegedly compounded his criminal conduct by lying to an FDA Special Agent to minimize the scope of his thefts. Thanks to the combined efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FDA, this illicit pipeline of stolen drugs to vets and horse trainers has been shut down.”

“The safety and effectiveness of veterinary drugs play a key role in maintaining the health of animals. When these drugs leave the legitimate supply chain, they can lose their effectiveness or become unsafe,” stated FDA-OCI Special Agent-in-Charge Ebersole.  “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who endanger the health of animals.”

As set forth in court filings, Settino was the production supervisor of manufacturing at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Shirley, New York. In January 2019, Luitpold was renamed American Regent. One of the products manufactured at Luitpold and American Regent was Adequan, an injectable equine drug administered to horses with degenerative joint disease and sold throughout the United States. Between 2012 and January 2020, Settino allegedly stole thousands of bottles of Adequan from Luitpold and American Regent valued at over $1 million, and sold those drugs to horse trainers and veterinarians at New York racetracks, including Belmont Park, for more than $600,000. Settino's conduct endangered the health of horses because the drugs were not maintained, stored or transported in accordance with proper procedures for ensuring the safety, effectiveness and efficacy of the drugs. At times, Settino transported the drugs in shoeboxes stored in his car.  At all times, the drugs were handled in violation of the FDA regulated supply chain.

On January 23, 2020, Settino was interviewed by an FDA Special Agent and allegedly falsely stated that he had stolen fewer than 100 bottles of Adequan from Luitpold and American Regent.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Settino faces up to 25 years in prison.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is in charge of the prosecution.

The post Former Drug Company Employee Indicted On Federal Charges After Allegedly Stealing Thousands Of Bottles Of Joint Medication appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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