Former Long Island Drug Manufacturer Supervisor Admits To Theft Of Medical Products

Bethpage resident Gregory Settino, 58, has pleaded guilty to the theft of medical products and making false statements to a federal agent.

Settino was the production supervisor of manufacturing at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Shirley, which was renamed American Regent last January.

One of the products manufactured at Luitpold and American Regent was Adequan, an injectable equine drug administered to horses with degenerative joint disease and sold throughout the United States.

Between 2012 and January 2020, Settino stole thousands of bottles of Adequan from Luitpold and American Regent valued at more than $1 million, and sold those drugs to horse trainers and veterinarians at New York racetracks, including Belmont Park, for more than $600,000.

Federal prosecutors said that Settino’s conduct endangered the health of horses because the drugs were not maintained, stored or transported in accordance with proper procedures for ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and efficacy of the drugs.

At times, Settino also transported the drugs in shoeboxes stored in his car. At all times, the drugs were handled in violation of the FDA regulated supply chain.

Settino doubled down on his scheme in January this year, when he falsely told an FDA special agent that he had stolen less than 100 bottles of Adequan from his employers.

“With today’s guilty plea, Settino has been held accountable for stealing from his then-employer thousands of bottles of an injectable drug administered to horses, which he resold to trainers and vets potentially endangering the health of horses at New York racetracks because the stolen drugs were not handled properly,” acting U.S. Attorney DuCharme said.

When he is sentenced, Settino faces up to 20 years in prison, restitution to his former employer, and a fine up to $250,000.

“The FDA works to ensure that veterinary drugs are safe and effective so that animals remain healthy. When drugs are taken out of the legitimate supply chain, there is no longer any assurance that they are safe or effective,” FDA-OCI Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey Ebersole added. “The FDA remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice those who endanger the health of animals.”

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