On Wednesday (Oct. 20) trainer Chris Oakes entered a guilty plea in the Southern District of New York to drug misbranding and adulteration with intent to defraud or deceive.
The count is in violation of title 21 U.S. Code § 331, which deals with prohibited acts under the Federal Food, Drug And Cosmetic Act.
"I purchased medication from Seth Fishman, Dr. Gregory Skelton and his assistant Ross Cohen, and administered the medications to my horses in my care to try to gain an unfair advantage," said Oakes under oath to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. When asked if Oakes had administered any drugs to horses racing at Yonkers Raceway, Oakes replied "yes, your honour."
Oakes stated that the administration of performance-enhancing substances transpired "around the first part of 2019 through to maybe March 2020," when he was arrested.
The former trainer could face up to three years imprisonment for the felony offense and a maximum fine of $200,000. He was one of the individuals named in March 2020 when the United States Department of Justice charged a total of 27 individuals with "offenses relating to the systematic and covert administration of illegal performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to racehorses competing across the United States and abroad."
Sentencing for Oakes has been set for February 17, 2022.