In April of 2009, police raided the farm of Ernie Paragallo, a then-prominent owner of Thoroughbred race horses and former executive at Goldman Sachs Group. They found 177 horses in various stages of emaciation and parasite infestation. Reports at the time stated that there was inadequate shelter and food on the property, and some of the horses had untreated injuries.
In handing down the maximum sentence of two years in jail, Judge George Pulver Jr. cited Paragallo’s lack of remorse and his insistence that the horses had received proper care, despite evidence to the contrary.
According to an Associated Press story, Judge Pulver did not mince words in the sentencing. “Your sense of integrity, your code of conduct, your perception of right and wrong, was perhaps formed by your days on either mean streets or Wall Street. Money, the bottom line, and opulence in your mind trumps morality, honesty and civility.”
In addition to the jail time, Paragallo has been fined a total of $33,000 according to Thoroughbred Times. He will also pay restitution to the equine rescue that cared for his horses after the raid.
Though some of the horses at Paragallo’s Center Brook Farm were euthanized due to malnutrition or injuries, many are now in adopted homes or at Thoroughbred retirement centers.
I hope he gets the same treatment in jail. Lack of care and food, so he can see how it feels, to be dependten on someone else that just does not care about him.
If you can’t take care of the animals then you shouldn’t own them. It’s too bad that criminals like him get better care in prison than the animals that were in his care.
liked the last comment people dont see animals that need to be care dofr all they se is $$$$$$$. Its just wrong and sad and…… yeah. poor horses. at least there in heaven or good homes now.
I’m glad he’s convicted. I hope he never owns an animal again. Or had kids.