Lake Charles veterinarian convicted
A Lake Charles veterinarian was found guilty in federal court Tuesday of conspiracy to sell a synthetic form of an unapproved opioid drug known as “frog juice” that was given to racehorses to improve their performance.
A jury found Kyle James Hebert, 42, guilty of one count of conspiracy; two counts of receipt of an adulterated or misbranded drug with the intent to defraud; and one count of misbranding a drug.
His company, Southern Equine Sports Medicine, operated veterinary clinics in Lake Charles and Sunset, a town in St. Landry Parish.
Omaha, Neb.-based Kohll’s Pharmacy & Healthcare Inc. was also found guilty of one count of conspiracy and two counts of introduction of an adulterated or misbranded drug in interstate commerce with intent to defraud.
Jurors learned that from November 2010 to December 2012, Kohll’s Pharmacy — which operated as Essential Pharmacy Compounding — obtained the painkiller dermorphin from a California-based chemical company and labeled it with the fake name “d-peptide.”
According to the indictment, Hebert bought $25,000 worth of the drug and then gave syringes loaded with it to racetrack trainers who were caring for horses. At least four horses that were given the drug competed at Louisiana racetracks.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook said in a news release that dermorphin is a painkiller 40 times stronger than morphine and is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in humans or animals. The name “frog juice” comes from the fact that dermorphin is naturally secreted by South American tree frogs.
The Louisiana State Racing Commission in 2012 sanctioned nine trainers whose horses tested positive for dermorphin. According to a 2012 Times-Picayune report, one of the sanctioned trainers told the commission that Hebert gave the drugs to his horses, claiming they were “human herbs that would boost metabolism and help them breathe a bit.”
The court has not set a sentencing date for Hebert, who could face up to five years in prison for the count of conspiracy and three years for each of the remaining counts.