Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003091863
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-12 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
Dr. Joseph J. Brown, of Shelbyville, Ky., was arrested Feb. 17 in a Calder Race Course thoroughbred barn on charges of wire fraud charges.
A source close to the investigation, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said prosecutors agreed to drop the charges in exchange for Brown's cooperation with federal investigators in Kentucky.
The case evolved after Brown allegedly told an undercover agent for the Thorougbred Racing Protective Board that he would kill racehorses for a share of the insurance profits.
"The case was dismissed by U.S. Magistrate Peter Palermo on a motion by the government," U.S. attorney's office spokeswoman Diane Cossin said Thursday. The charges were dropped March 1.
The case was dismissed without prejudice, she said, meaning it can be filed again at any time.
At the time of his arrest, Brown, 43, had two vials of a clear liquid and two syringes hidden in his socks, according to an FBI affidavit, and apparently intended to give a thoroughbred a lethal injection, Miami FBI spokesman Paul Miller said.
The FBI alleged the dentist said he would charge $15,000 to kill the horse at Calder - $2,500 down and the rest upon settlement of the insurance claim.
The FBI affidavit made references to the related deaths of horses in New Jersey and New York. But the Thoroughbred Racing Association in New York found no evidence of suspicious deaths at tracks in those states, said Chris Scherf, executive vice president of the organization.
by CNB