Eye Surgery Delays Start of Navarro's Prison Sentence

U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil approved a Feb. 3 request to a 30-day delay to the start of trainer Jorge Navarro's incarceration for what his attorney said was to recuperate from eye surgery.

Navarro's attorney Jason Kreiss asked for an extension from Navarro's initial surrender date of Feb. 17. This action came after Vyskocil sentenced Navarro Dec. 17 to five years in prison after his guilty plea on charges of using performance-enhancing drugs in racehorses. 

EHALT: Navarro Receives Five-Year Prison Sentence in PED Case

"While preparing for his impending incarceration, Mr. Navarro had an eye examination which revealed a condition that requires a surgical procedure," Kreiss wrote in a letter to the court.

He indicated the earliest Navarro could schedule surgery was Feb. 16 and requested additional time for the "surgical procedure and aftercare with his ophthalmologist."

Kreiss added that he conferred with assistant U.S. attorney Andrew Adams, who did not oppose the request. Navarro will now head to prison in mid-March.

During his sentencing, Vyskocil initially gave Navarro a Jan. 18 date to report to prison, a period of 30 days, but agreed at the time to a request from Kreiss to extend that to 60 days.

Under instructions previously issued by Vyskocil, Navarro must serve at least 85% of his 60-month sentence. 

The trainer further faces $25,860,514 due in restitution after paying a $70,000 forfeiture.