Fishman asks for another delay in sentencing

T. D. Thornton of the Thoroughbred Daily News reports that the veterinarian Seth Fishman–who is facing 20 years in prison, has an active motion asking for the first of his two convicted counts to be dismissed, and has already been granted one sentencing delay because he is allegedly having trouble filling out federal probation paperwork–again on Tuesday requested another delay of his sentencing.

The half-redacted letter motion filed by his attorney in United States District Court (Southern District of New York) on May 17 suggests that a COVID-19 outbreak where he is being detained at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn is the reason.

“Dr. Fishman’s tier is currently in ‘lockdown’ status and, apparently, will remain in that position for the foreseeable future,” wrote attorney Maurice Sercarz.

Although the letter motion itself does not mention the pandemic in its unredacted portions, the internet home page for the prison features a prominent notice that “operations are being modified at this facility due to COVID-19. All visiting at this facility has been suspended until further notice.”

Fishman was convicted Feb. 2 on two felony counts in an international equine performance-enhancing drug doping conspiracy. The judge in the case has yet to rule on Fishman’s motion asking for the first of his two convicted counts to be dismissed on the basis that he was allegedly charged twice for the same crime.

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