Horse Doping Drug Company’s Sales Director Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court
summary
Michael Kegley Jr., sales director of an unregistered equine drug distributor, pleaded guilty to promoting and selling adulterated and misbranded performance-enhancing drugs like SGF-1000—marketed as undetectable vasodilators despite unknown ingredients—to defraud regulators and enhance racehorse performance, enabling widespread doping across U.S. and international tracks and facing sentencing on November 22, 2021.
paragraph
Michael Kegley Jr. pleaded guilty to distributing adulterated and misbranded performance-enhancing drugs, including SGF-1000, with intent to defraud, as part of a broader horse racing doping scheme. Despite admitting he did not know the actual contents of SGF-1000, he marketed it as a safe, untestable vasodilator derived from sheep placenta to improve horse stamina and evade detection, facilitating illegal drug use in professional racing across multiple U.S. states and the UAE. Kegley, who served as sales director for an unregistered drug distributor, faces sentencing on November 22, 2021, under U.S. v. Navarro et al., charged with violating federal drug and animal welfare laws.
narrative
Michael Kegley Jr., sales director of an unregistered equine drug distributor, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to promoting and selling adulterated and misbranded performance-enhancing drugs with intent to defraud, as part of a widespread scheme targeting professional horse racing. He specifically marketed SGF-1000—an intravenous compound falsely claimed to be derived from sheep placenta—as a vasodilator that enhanced stamina and endurance while being undetectable by regulators, despite admitting he had no knowledge of its actual ingredients. His sales supported trainers and veterinarians who secretly administered these unregulated substances to racehorses across the U.S., including New York, Kentucky, and Florida, as well as internationally in the UAE, to gain prize money and improve racing records. The drugs were manufactured in unregistered facilities, circumventing federal oversight and endangering the health of racehorses. Kegley’s conduct was part of a broader federal investigation, U.S. v. Navarro et al., which targeted a network of trainers, veterinarians, and distributors engaged in systemic fraud and animal abuse. The FBI’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force and the Southern District of New York’s Money Laundering Unit led the probe, highlighting the case as a key effort under the Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative. Kegley is scheduled to be sentenced on November 22, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, as part of a coordinated prosecution aimed at dismantling corruption in the horse racing industry.
Classified health-care-fraud(confidence 100%). No EDGAR filing fingerprint (criminal/DOJ-side scheme). detection rule →
Statutes
15 U.S.C. § 80b-6
Parties
United States of AmericaNAVARRO ET AL
Keywords
kegleydruglinkgovernment non-governmentnon-government sitessites typicallytypically appearappear externalexternal linklink iconicon indicateindicate leavingleaving websitewebsite clickclick link
Extracted insights
Entities 1
- person michael kegley
Triples 6
- Michael Kegley Jr. Pled Guilty To His Role In The Distribution Of Adulterated And Misbranded Drugs With The Intent To Defraud And Mislead
- Michael Kegley Promoted And Sold Unregulated Performance Enhancing Substances Intended For Use By Those Engaged In Fraud And Unconscionable Animal Abuse In The World Of Professional Horseracing
- The Navarro Case Arise From An Investigation Of Widespread Schemes By Racehorse Trainers, Veterinarians, Performance-Enhancing Drug Distributors, And Others To Manufacture, Distribute, And Receive Adulterated And Misbranded Ped S And To Secretly Administer Those Peds To Racehorses Competing At All Levels Of Professional Horseracing
- Trainers Stood To Profit From The Success Of Racehorses Under Their Control By Earning A Share Of Their Horses’ Winnings
- Veterinarians And Drug Distributors Profited From The Sale And Administration Of These Medically Unnecessary, Misbranded, And Adulterated Substances
- Sgf-1000 Was Promoted As A Vasodilator Capable Of Promoting Stamina, Endurance, And Lower Heart Rates In Horses Through The Purported Action Of Growth Factors Supposedly Derived From Sheep Placenta
Extracted body text (5,070c)
Press Release Horse Doping Drug Company’s Sales Director Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court Friday, July 23, 2021 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Michael Kegley Jr. Promoted and Sold Prohibited Performance Enhancing Drugs Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendant MICHAEL KEGLEY JR. pled guilty today to his role in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead, in connection with the charges filed in United States v. Navarro et al., 20 Cr. 160 (MKV). KEGLEY pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, and will be sentenced by Judge Vyskocil on November 22, 2021. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Michael Kegley promoted and sold unregulated performance enhancing substances intended for use by those engaged in fraud and unconscionable animal abuse in the world of professional horseracing. This conviction underscores that our Office and our partners at the FBI are committed to the prosecution and investigation of corruption, fraud, and endangerment at every level of the horse racing industry.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Information, the prior Indictments[1], other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings: The charges in the NavarroLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. case arise from an investigation of widespread schemes by racehorse trainers, veterinarians, performance-enhancing drug (“PED”) distributors, and others to manufacture, distribute, and receive adulterated and misbranded PEDs and to secretly administer those PEDs to racehorses competing at all levels of professional horseracing. By evading PED prohibitions and deceiving regulators and horse racing officials, participants in these schemes sought to improve race performance and obtain prize money from racetracks throughout the United States and other countries, including in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”), all to the detriment and risk of the health and well-being of the racehorses. Trainers who participated in the schemes stood to profit from the success of racehorses under their control by earning a share of their horses’ winnings, and by improving their horses’ racing records, thereby yielding higher trainer fees and increasing the number of racehorses under their control. Veterinarians and drug distributors, such as KEGLEY, who worked as the director of sales for an unregistered distributor of equine drugs, profited from the sale and administration of these medically unnecessary, misbranded, and adulterated substances. Among the misbranded and adulterated PEDs marketed and sold by KEGLEY was the drug “SGF-1000,” which was compounded and manufactured in unregistered facilities. SGF-1000 was an intravenous drug promoted as, among other things, a vasodilator capable of promoting stamina, endurance, and lower heart rates in horses through the purported action of “growth factors” supposedly derived from sheep placenta. Despite marketing, selling, and administering SGF-1000, KEGLEY acknowledged in intercepted calls that he, along with a co-defendant involved in the sale of SGF-1000, did not know the actual contents of SGF-1000. Nevertheless, KEGLEY’s sales of that drug persisted, aided by the claim that SGF-1000 would be untestable in horses by law enforcement. * * * U.S. Attorney Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Office’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force and its support of the FBI’s Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative. This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Mortazavi, Andrew C. Adams, Anden Chow, and Benet Kearney are in charge of the prosecution. [1] As to Kegley’s co-defendants, the entirety of the texts of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, James Margolin (212) 637-2600 Updated February 26, 2024 Topic Animal Welfare Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 21-192
OCR text (5,070c · plain-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Horse Doping Drug Company’s Sales Director Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court Friday, July 23, 2021 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Michael Kegley Jr. Promoted and Sold Prohibited Performance Enhancing Drugs Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendant MICHAEL KEGLEY JR. pled guilty today to his role in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead, in connection with the charges filed in United States v. Navarro et al., 20 Cr. 160 (MKV). KEGLEY pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, and will be sentenced by Judge Vyskocil on November 22, 2021. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Michael Kegley promoted and sold unregulated performance enhancing substances intended for use by those engaged in fraud and unconscionable animal abuse in the world of professional horseracing. This conviction underscores that our Office and our partners at the FBI are committed to the prosecution and investigation of corruption, fraud, and endangerment at every level of the horse racing industry.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Information, the prior Indictments[1], other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings: The charges in the NavarroLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. case arise from an investigation of widespread schemes by racehorse trainers, veterinarians, performance-enhancing drug (“PED”) distributors, and others to manufacture, distribute, and receive adulterated and misbranded PEDs and to secretly administer those PEDs to racehorses competing at all levels of professional horseracing. By evading PED prohibitions and deceiving regulators and horse racing officials, participants in these schemes sought to improve race performance and obtain prize money from racetracks throughout the United States and other countries, including in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”), all to the detriment and risk of the health and well-being of the racehorses. Trainers who participated in the schemes stood to profit from the success of racehorses under their control by earning a share of their horses’ winnings, and by improving their horses’ racing records, thereby yielding higher trainer fees and increasing the number of racehorses under their control. Veterinarians and drug distributors, such as KEGLEY, who worked as the director of sales for an unregistered distributor of equine drugs, profited from the sale and administration of these medically unnecessary, misbranded, and adulterated substances. Among the misbranded and adulterated PEDs marketed and sold by KEGLEY was the drug “SGF-1000,” which was compounded and manufactured in unregistered facilities. SGF-1000 was an intravenous drug promoted as, among other things, a vasodilator capable of promoting stamina, endurance, and lower heart rates in horses through the purported action of “growth factors” supposedly derived from sheep placenta. Despite marketing, selling, and administering SGF-1000, KEGLEY acknowledged in intercepted calls that he, along with a co-defendant involved in the sale of SGF-1000, did not know the actual contents of SGF-1000. Nevertheless, KEGLEY’s sales of that drug persisted, aided by the claim that SGF-1000 would be untestable in horses by law enforcement. * * * U.S. Attorney Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Office’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force and its support of the FBI’s Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative. This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Mortazavi, Andrew C. Adams, Anden Chow, and Benet Kearney are in charge of the prosecution. [1] As to Kegley’s co-defendants, the entirety of the texts of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, James Margolin (212) 637-2600 Updated February 26, 2024 Topic Animal Welfare Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 21-192