A familiar name returned to U.S. harness racing late last week, when former training star Brett Pelling, back from Down Under, testified in the David Brooks fraud trial

in federal court on Long Island.

According to newsday.com and harnessracing.com, Pelling told the court he had received more than $900,000 in training payments in cheques from Tactical Armor Products, one of a number of war product companies owned or controlled by Brooks, and linked through his DHB Industries, whose stock he reportedly sold for $185 million in a 'pump and dump' securities fraud.

Prosecutors say the $900,000 was funneled to the Tennessee-based TAP from the parent DHB to pay Pelling’s training bills. TAP provided sewing services and armored plates for military and army use.

Two other Brooks companies, Point Blank and PACA, allegedly purchased more than $29 million in goods and services from Tactical Armor Products, which derived a $9 million profit that was used as part of $14 million to pay Pelling, buy $6 million worth of horses, and $1.8 million for grooms. TAP was owned at the time by Brooks’ wife, Terry.

Brooks’ defence attorney, Kenneth Ravenell, noted that TAP also sewed saddle pads for harness racing, and that it was privately owned by Mrs. Brooks and not a public company like DHB. As such, he said, she could do whatever she wanted with the millions in profits made by TAP, including financing Brooks’ horse business if she chose to do so.

(Harness Tracks of America)

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