New York Man Sentenced for Stealing, Selling Adequan

A former supervisor at a Long Island, N.Y., drug manufacturer who admitted to stealing $750,000 worth of medical products he then sold at New York racetracks was sentenced April 20 to one-year-and-a-day's imprisonment.

Gregory Settino, who in December 2020 admitted to the theft, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Central Islip, N.Y. Besides the prison time, the court also ordered Settino to pay restitution of $847,093.

Breon Peace, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ronne G. Malham, acting special agent-in-charge, of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office, announced the sentence.

"Today's sentence is the finish line of Gregory Settino's criminal conduct. He stole thousands of bottles of drugs, ignored safe handling practices, and allowed them to be given to horses at New York racetracks without regard for the health of the animals—only focusing on his own personal gain," Peace said in a release. "Those who jeopardize drug safety and risk the health of others will be held accountable and face serious consequences."

"The FDA ensures that veterinary drugs are safe and effective so that animals remain healthy," Malham added. "Drugs that are taken out of the legitimate supply chain pose a risk to the animals that take them. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who endanger the health of animals."

As admitted at the defendant's plea, Settino, the former production supervisor of manufacturing at drug manufacturer American Regent, formerly Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, in Shirley, N.Y., stole thousands of bottles of Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan), a drug manufactured there. Adequan is an injectable equine drug administered to horses to treat degenerative joint disease.

Settino's thefts covered a period of eight years, from 2012-20, and Settino sold those drugs for hundreds of thousands of dollars to trainers and veterinarians at New York racetracks, including Belmont Park. 

While Adequan is a recognized therapeutic, 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.

BLOODHORSE STAFF: NY Man Admits to Selling Stolen Drugs at Tracks