Navarro Gets Maximum Prison Sentence of Five Years

[Wandering Eyes]

MANHATTAN, NY–Trainer Jorge Navarro, who has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs on his racehorse trainees, was given the maximum possible sentence of five years in prison Friday in a federal court in Manhattan by Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.

Navarro's attorney had asked the court to give Navarro a sentence of four years, but Vyskocil was adamant that Navarro be penalized to the fullest extent of the law, and stated in court that she would have given him an even longer sentence if it were allowable by law.

Vyskocil lashed into Navarro several times throughout the 90-minute hearing.

“For years, Mr. Navarro, you effectively stole millions, cheating other trainers, owners and jockeys who you competed against,” the judge said. “You also demonstrated, Mr. Navarro, a collective, callous disregard for the well-being of the horses. Bottom line, you likely killed or endangered horses in your care.”

Navarro spoke in his own defense, unable to hold back tears when addressing the court, and openly weeping.

“I became hungry and somewhere along the line, lost my way,” he said. “The pressure got to me that I had to win to be respected in the horse racing industry and I didn't consider the options. I became a selfish person who only cared about winning and I lost my way.”

The judge granted Navarro the right to voluntarily surrender and he is due to do so 60 days from today.

Navarro was arrested in March 2020, and was one of 27 individuals originally charged in a massive federal sting operation into racehorse doping. Many of those originally detained have pled guilty, and have been sentenced to time in jail. To date, Navarro's is the longest of those sentences. He pled guilty to one count of drug adulteration and misbranding in August.  

This story will be updated.

 

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