In addition to a achievable federal jail sentence, previous trainer Jorge Navarro could be deported as a outcome of his responsible plea to a single count of conspiracy to commit drug adulteration and misbranding. Navarro is 1 of the most publicly-known defendants in the 2020 federal indictments of trainers, veterinarians, and drug makers in what prosecutors say was a huge-ranging community of individuals operating together to dope racehorses.

Navarro entered his responsible plea to the cost in August and will be sentenced Dec. 17. He may perhaps be ordered to serve as significantly as 5 decades in federal jail.

On Dec. 3, Navarro’s protection attorneys submitted their pre-sentencing report, accompanied by 100 web pages of character references from relatives, pals, and racing connections. The report indicated that although Navarro lawfully immigrated to the United States from Panama some 35 a long time back, he faces “almost specified deportation to a place where by he has pretty much no familial, social, or economic ties.”

Thanks to his immigration standing, his lawyers say Navarro will probably not be permitted to provide a federal jail time period in a minimum-stability facility, which indicates he might be sent to a prison out of state, far from his dwelling and loved ones. At the conclusion of his sentence, he might be transferred into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and despatched to one of their prisons ahead of deportation.

“Jorge acknowledges that his carry out in this circumstance calls into issue his care for his horses, but people that know him as a horseman and coach realize his legitimate appreciate and devotion to his horses,” go through the defense report. “At this juncture, possessing been absent from horse racing for almost two many years, Jorge realizes the errors of his techniques and is contrite, remorseful, and wishes he could roll back the fingers of time.”

A selection of previous racing connections of Navarro wrote character references on his behalf, which include previous employees, owners, horse transporters, jockeys, and feed suppliers. Supportive former owners include things like Ron Hendrickson, Joseph Casciato, Jason Provenzano, Frank Rupolo, Dennis Amaty, and other people. Jockeys Jose Ferrer, Isaac Castillo and Manny Jiminez, as nicely as former jockey Rene Douglas also wrote on behalf of Navarro. 

For various letter writers, Navarro’s romantic relationship with X Y Jet seemed to stand out.

“Because of his sensitive knee problems, the horse stayed in Ocala for a handful of months of the yr every single calendar year to rest and rehab,” wrote veterinarian Dr. Joel Lugo of Ocala Equine Medical center, who noted the horse experienced two knee operations in 2015 and 2017. “We in no way reviewed the use of any illegal or unethical procedure with him or with any of the other horses. The horse return [sic] to race when we though [sic] the horse was nutritious and all set. There was in no way any pressure from Navarro or the homeowners. We even reviewed his retirement on several situations.”

“That horse liked Jorge I imply I in no way noticed something like it,” wrote Navarro’s mom-in-regulation, Cindy Harries. “That horse was signify with anyone and not effortless to offer with. That horse was such a diva. Jorge would just stand there and X Y Jet would pin his ears flat from his head and appear at Jorge who never twitched, and he would just end and permit Jorge pet him and kiss him on the nose. When X Y Jet died going for walks in the shed row right after a program gallop, a component of Jorge died also.”

X Y Jet was among the the horses specifically named in the federal indictment as having been doped by Navarro, who admitted he gave the horse a blood builder just before an allowance optional boasting race on Feb. 13, 2019, at Gulfstream Park and the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

The prosecution’s sentencing report is due to the courtroom Dec. 10.

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