Jordan Fishman in Court for Plea Change Oct. 6

Jordan Fishman, one of numerous individuals charged in a horse-doping scheme to distribute various misbranded and adulterated substances, has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled in court next week.

An order filed Sept. 29 in the Southern District of New York indicates a hearing before United States District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil Oct. 6. The government accuses Fishman of compounding performance-enhancing drugs to specifications for veterinarian Seth Fishman for the purpose of providing those substances to horse trainers and others for administration.

More than two dozen individuals have been charged. Some defendants have already changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty, most notably veterinarian Kristian Rhein and embattled trainer Jorge Navarro, both of whom are suspended from racing.

Others, such as fellow suspended trainer Jason Servis, have maintained not guilty pleas while awaiting the judge's rulings on their legal motions to suppress wiretap evidence collected by the government. Recordings of telephone conversations are crucial to the government's case, having captured some defendants discussing illegal activities.

Navarro faces up to five years in prison after submitting his guilty plea, Rhein up to three years.

During prior hearings in which defendants altered their pleas to guilty, Vyskocil walked the accused through a series of questions in which they admitted to breaking laws and racing rules. In some replies, they implicated other defendants.