THE NEW YORK POST (by Tamar Lapin)
He got knocked off his high horse.
Federal authorities on Thursday reined in a Long Island pharmaceutical company employee who allegedly swiped hundreds of thousands of dollars in horse drugs from his work — and then sold them directly to veterinarians and trainers.
Gregory Settino, 58, was arrested on an indictment charging him with swiping the equine medication and pawning it at New York race tracks, including Belmont Park, authorities said.
The Bethpage man allegedly mounted the plot “in order to enrich himself and without regard for how his sale of the medical products could potentially endanger the health of horses,” acting US Attorney Seth D. DuCharme said in a statement.
From 2012 to January of this year, Settino was the production supervisor of manufacturing at the Suffolk County pharmaceutical company Luitpold, which is now named American Regent.
During that time, he allegedly stole thousands of bottles of Adequan, an injectable equine drug administered to horses with degenerative joint disease, according to a criminal indictment unsealed Thursday in the Eastern District of New York.
The medication was valued at more than $1 million, authorities said.
Settino then allegedly pocketed more than $600,0000 from hocking the drugs to vets and trainers, according to the indictment.
Settino entered a plea of not-guilty at his virtual arraignment before Judge Arlene R. Lindsay on Thursday — and hoofed it after ponying up a $250,000 bond.
Featured Image: Belmont Stakes. Belmont Park. ©2014 Eclipse Sportswire.
Tuesday's Horse 