Vick sentenced in Virginia

Vick sentenced in Virginia
December 10th, 2007

Richmond, VA (Sports Network) - Disgraced Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to prison on Monday for his participation in an illegal dogfighting ring.

Vick was given 23 months of jail time by U.S. District Judge Henry E.Hudson.

The suspended signal caller has already begun serving his jail time, having surrendered to authorities on November 19.

Under terms of Vick's plea agreement, federal prosecutors agreed to recommend sentencing at the low end of the guideline range -- reportedly from 12 to 18 months. However, Hudson was under no obligation to follow the guideline and could have sentenced Vick to a maximum of five years in prison.

Previously, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips, two of Vick's co-defendants in the case, were sentenced to prison. Peace received 18 months of jail time and Phillips was given 21 months. Peace's sentence was on the high end of his 12-to-18 month guideline range recommended by federal prosecutors, while Phillips' time was in the middle of his 18-24 month range.

Tony Taylor, the fourth co-defendant in the case, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14.

Vick and the three other men entered guilty pleas to federal dogfighting charges this summer.

Vick pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and sponsoring a dog in an animal-fighting venture.

The charges stem from an operation allegedly conducted at a house owned by Vick in Smithfield, Virginia.

According to the July 17 indictment of the suspended Falcons quarterback, he and his co-defendants were involved in an ongoing animal fighting business based out of Vick's property from early 2001 through sometime in April of this year.

Since Vick purchased the property in June 2001, the defendants formed a dog fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" and used the property for housing and training pit bulls used in dog fights. From at least 2002, the defendants and others sponsored dog fights on the property and brought dogs from several states to participate in the events.

During the fights, the participants would place bets ranging from the hundreds to thousands of dollars. The fights would last until either the death or surrender of the losing dog, which would then sometimes be put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot, electrocution or other methods.

Also, the indictment said the defendants participated in dog fights in North and South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and elsewhere in Virginia.

The dog fighting affair was first brought to light when Vick's home was raided on April 26 when authorities seized 54 dogs, along with several other pieces of equipment associated in dogfighting.

The property was again searched on June 7 by federal officials, who uncovered the graves of several pit bulls on the property.

Vick did not admit to killing any dogs personally or gambling on the fights. The summary of facts accompanying the plea agreement said Vick was aware four dogs were killed in 2002 and six to eight dogs were killed this past April as a result of the "collective efforts" of Vick and two of his co-defendants.

All four men are also facing state dogfighting charges.