Chan Sentenced to 30 Months in New York Doping Case

Dr. Alexander Chan was sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison for his role in widespread racehorse doping with known involvement by about two dozen others who have been convicted.

Chan, a former veterinarian, faced Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, whose sentencing order was made public May 25, in a Manhattan courtroom on May 24.

Chan pleaded guilty on Dec. 5 to an amended charge of drug misbranding and adulteration in interstate commerce after originally being charged with more serious offenses that were dismissed yesterday. A money judgment of $311,760 was entered against Chan, representing the value of forfeitable property for which Chan is jointly and severally liable with co-defendant and former veterinarian Dr. Kristian Rhein.

Rhein is serving a three-year sentence in federal prison on a related charge since early last year and was hit with a forfeiture order of $1,021,800, a restitution order of $729,716, and a $10,000 fine.

The United States Attorney's sentencing submission asked for 30 months of imprisonment, objecting to a probation office recommendation of 18 months. It said Chan was "earning twice as much at Empire Veterinary Group (working for Rhein) as he had (as a traveling vet) at NYRA, was motivated to help his trainer-clients cheat, and he did so for years." Chan did not argue for probation but instead requested "no more than 10 months’ incarceration."

High-visibility defendants prosecuted after multiple federal indictments in New York include former trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis. Navarro was dealt a five-year sentence in December 2021, and Servis, who in December became the last of the group to plead guilty, is scheduled for sentencing July 26.

Of all the cases, the most severe incarceration was levied against Dr. Seth Fishman, who is serving an 11-year sentence after being convicted by a jury on two counts of conspiracy to commit drug misbranding and adulteration offenses. At his trial, Fishman did not call any witnesses or testify on his own behalf after the jury heard strong evidence the veterinarian concocted performance-enhancing drugs and unlawfully distributed them for years from his base in Florida. Fishman appealed the conviction and is fighting the government's effort to add on a significant forfeiture order against him.

Chan, a New Yorker, was originally indicted in early 2020 for conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and administer adulterated or misbranded performance-enhancing drugs administered to racehorses. A superseding indictment filed in November of the same year tacked on mail and wire fraud conspiracy charges against Chan, Servis, and Rhein.

Chan, Rhein, Navarro, Fishman, and others were sentenced by Vyskocil in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Vyskocil, who kept the cases on track through a pandemic that all but shut down courtroom hearings in New York City, will also preside over the sentencing of Servis.

Chan was ordered to surrender on Sept 25. On motion of his attorney, Vyskocil recommended Chan be housed in a facility close to New York City to facilitate family visits. He will be on supervised release for one year after his term is served.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mortazavi handled the Chan case along with many other related ones. Attorney Neil Peter Kelly, a federal public defender with an impressive background in private practice, has represented Chan since he entered an appearance in the case last June.