UPDATED:Michael Vick Sentenced to 23 Months in Jail for Role in Dogfighting Conspiracy

Monday, December 10, 2007
Source: CNN-CNN.com

RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) — Michael Vick, once one of the highest paid players in the National Football League, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls that did not fight aggressively. Vick’s stunning downfall from NFL superstar to disgraced dogfighting defendant culminated Monday in a 90-minute sentencing hearing in federal court in Richmond, Virginia.Vick was dressed in a black-and-white striped prison suit and apologized to the his family and to the judge.“You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you,” responded U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.Vick also acknowledged he used “poor judgment” and added he was ready to accept responsibility.Vick, 27, had faced a maximum of five years in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 12 to 18 months.  U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg said after the hearing that the investigation “exposed a seamy side of our society.” He added, “I hope Mr. Vick learned important lessons and that his admission of guilt will speed his rehabilitation.”

Vick and three co-defendants still face trial on state dogfighting charges in Virginia.   [For full story]

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Vick indicted by state grand jury in dogfighting case

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

SUSSEX, Va.  — A Virginia grand jury indicted suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick on state dogfighting charges Tuesday, prosecutors announced

The grand jury brought two charges against Vick: one count of killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights. In a plea agreement on federal charges, the quarterback has admitted to bankrolling a dogfighting operation from his home in Surry County, Virginia.

Arraignment for Vick is scheduled for October 3.

Vick and three associates — Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia — had pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the dogfighting venture and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter said earlier he would present more than 10 state bills of indictment against Vick and his co-defendants.

Vick, 27, faces a possible prison term of 12 to 18 months after his August guilty plea to a federal conspiracy charge related to the dogfighting ring. After the plea, the National Football League suspended him indefinitely without pay.

He faces sentencing on December 10 in U.S. District Court in Richmond on the federal charges. Read about federal case against Vick »

Poindexter defended his decision to bring more charges against the four because the federal case didn’t address crimes committed in Surry County.

“Crime was committed here. How do you ignore it?” Poindexter said to reporters outside the grand jury courtroom. “Not piling on anybody, just looking out for Surry County.”

The grand jury is composed of six people, two black males, two black females and two white females.

 

Michael Vick Speaks About Dogfighting Guilty Plea

Monday, August 27, 2007

RICHMOND, Va – Vick, made his appearance in court today and as expected pleaded guilty.  As he stood before Judge Hudson he citied what I would call the normal scripted apology with the exception of adding his own ignorant remarks. 

1. Stating his actions were inmature and he needed to grow up [how ignorant is that statement?  What actions would he have done if he felt he was mature?  He made it sound like dog fighting was a childish game, how thought provoking is that as a role model….fg2]

2. Stating dog fighting is a terrible thing [stating dog fighting is a terrible thing but has yet to admit that it is cruel and  inhumane and unconscionable but bless his heart he didn’t participate in the gambling and betting so does that mean he feels that justifies his actions in helping to kill the dogs that were not fit for fighting….fg2] 

Vick also repeatedly apologized to his young football fans, saying his behavior was “immature.”

“I apologize to the young kids for my immature acts,” Vick said. “What I did was immature and I need to grow up,” he said.

Asking for “forgiveness and understanding,” Vick said he would “turn my life over to God. That’s the right thing to do right now.”

“Dogfighting is a terrible thing and I reject it,” he said. [and the only reason he has made these statements is because he was caught, not because he knew or felt it was wrong to begin with……. at this point I am siging off any further posts regarding Michael Vick. I think everything that can be said has been said and his sentence isn’t until December.  I realize there will be ongoing events regarding his career, his salary, etc but that would entail daily posts which at this point would be ludicrous….. flagranny2]

For the full story >>> continue

Michael Vick Signs Plea Deal, Admits to Business Involving Dogfighting

Friday, August 24, 2007

                                                      

Fox News -Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick signed a plea deal Friday, admitting to dogfighting allegations that include promoting a business enterprise that involves gambling.

The plea agreement says the business enterprise involves sponsoring and transporting dogs in dogfighting operations.

Vick agrees that the ‘Bad Newz Kennels’ business enterprise involved gambling activities in violation of laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, according to the plea agreement.

Click here to read Vick’s plea agreement.

Vick knew dogs that did not perform well were being killed in the summer of 2002, but he did not kill any dogs, according to the plea agreement.

Last April, Vick and two co-defendants tested the fighting skills of dogs and the three agreed to kill six to eight dogs that did not perform well. All were killed by various methods that included hanging and drowning.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is scheduled to formally enter his plea Monday in U.S. District Court.

Meanwhile, the NFL quarterback’s father asked his son to give up dogfighting, or to at least put property used in the venture in the names of others to avoid being implicated, a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said.  [ Full Story ]

Vick Charges Shouldn’t Result in NFL Lifetime Ban, NAACP Says

By Aaron Kuriloff
Last Updated: August 22, 2007 16:20 EDT
Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) — Federal conspiracy charges brought against Michael Vick for dogfighting shouldn’t result in a lifetime ban from the National Football League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said.

“We should join hands as a team and recognize the fact that Mr. Vick is human, humans make mistakes, but we maintain that he is a redeemable human,” said R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP. “And as a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation.” [Full Story]

[And I say…The words “Vick is human and humans make mistakes……..and “as a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation”, are words that are simply nothing but mockery.  How can you say buying dogs training them to fight to kill, promoting dogfighting for gambling and then killing the dogs that don’t perform is a mistake? 

Definition of the word “mistake” -noun

1. an incorrect, unwise, or unfortunate act or decision caused by bad judgment or a lack of information or care;  It’s an easy mistake to make
2. error – something in a piece of work that is incorrect, for example, a misspelling or a misprint
3. misunderstanding – a misunderstanding of something

The definition does not include intentionally doing something when you know it’s illegal.  And “as a society we should aid in his rehab” I don’t think so.  Why should we, the tax payers pay for his rehab.  I think every day that he spends in jail/prison should come out of his monies.  He has enough money to pay and there is no reason why the tax payers should carry the burden while his big bank roll sits and earns interest…. That’s my 2 cents …..flagranny2  ] 

Vick waits to hear if he has NFL future

Tue August 21, 2007
From Mike Phelan
CNN

Why is it that a sports hero can get by with just about anything with practically a slap on the wrist compared to what anyone else would get having committed the same crime?  I know the decision has yet to be announced but you can bet you know what it will be. 

I certainly don’t call it racial discrimination, if anything it is status discrimination and race has nothing to do with it, it is all in who you are and who you know and that stinks big time. 

(CNN) — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is waiting to hear if he’ll ever play professional football again after agreeing to plead guilty and face prison in his federal dogfighting case.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank told the NFL Network Monday he could not speculate on Vick’s future as a Falcon, at least not until he has seen “a statement of facts” in the case.

Blank said he was “not really surprised” by news of the quarterback’s plea deal.

“From a personal standpoint, he’s doing the right thing,” Blank said. “That’s been my counsel to him some while ago, and publicly as well, to get this behind him as quickly as he can.”

The plea deal, Blank added, was “a step, and we’ll just deal with the facts as they become available.” Watch how Vick was left with no choice »

Vick’s attorneys had been negotiating with National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office about Vick’s career with the Atlanta Falcons before he agreed to any deal, the sources said.

It’s unclear if a conversation ever happened but Vick’s attorney Billy Martin said his client “agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his action and the mistakes he has made.”

“Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter,” Martin said.

After Vick’s indictment last month, Goodell ordered the quarterback not to report to training camp until the league completed its own review of the case.

An NFL spokesman said that the league “is aware” of Vick’s plea agreement and is considering what, if any, sanctions they should impose on the 27-year-old.   [Full Story]

Michael Vick Update 8/20/07-Michael Vick’s lead attorney said Monday that the Atlanta Falcons quarterback will plead guilty to dogfighting and related charges and will “accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made.”

Monday, August 20, 2007
 

When Vick’s co-defendants copped a plea that left Vick’s back against the wall.  If there had only been one, Vick  probably felt he had a chance accusing one person of lying but with 3 Vick that changed the cards on the table and his chances of trying to prove 3 were lying he knew he had to do something quick in order to possibly save his a** and his chance of  ever playing football again.

   

Michael Vick ready to accept responsibility. 

The lead attorney for pro football star Michael Vick said Monday that the Atlanta Falcons quarterback will plead guilty to dogfighting and related charges and will “accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made.”

Billy Martin, heading up Vick’s legal team, issued the following statement:

“After consulting with his family over the weekend. Michael Vick ask that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with Federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him. Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of Guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologizes again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter. The legal team and Mr. Vick will appear in court in Richmond on August 27th.”

Vick’s attorneys hope to hear back from National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office sometime Monday about Vick’s career options, sources said.

Vick’s three codefendants in the dogfighting case have accepted agreements to plead guilty in exchange for reduced sentences.