GUILTY VA - NFL QB Michael Vick, 3 others indicted for dog fighting, Surry County, 2007

[evelyn24]

This is awesome news.

 

[Buzz Mills]

BUzz you beat me on the NIKE news lol

Sorry about that Peter; actually I held off posting it, thinking someone else would do it, but after a while, I caved in


Keep letting them know how we feel:

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Roger.Goodell2@nfl.net

 

[panthera]

I have heard that additional charges will be filed against Michael Vick. GOOD!! If anyone happens to see any news referencing these additional charges, please post the article. Thanks.

I'm looking for the articles Buzz since I heard about these possible additional charges on the news today, like a RICO charge and also from the IRS but I'm looking for it confirmed in print.

This article is interesting and does mention this ~

"Among the issues the defense is facing is the prosecution’s promise of a superseding indictment to be issued in August. The indictment could add additional charges or defendants, or it could drop some defendants. Three men charged along with Vick have pleaded not guilty."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20002412/

 

[panthera]

I noticed this wasn't posted yet ~

Co-defendant doesn't want trial

RICHMOND, Va. -- One of Michael Vick's co-defendants doesn't want to wait for trial.

Instead, a plea agreement hearing has been scheduled for Tony Taylor at 9 a.m. Monday in the federal dogfighting conspiracy case.

Taylor's hearing was added to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson's docket Friday, a day after he and the other three defendants pleaded not guilty before the same judge. Vick and the others still are scheduled for trial Nov. 26.

Prosecutors claim Taylor, 34, found the Surry County property purchased by Vick and used it as the site of "Bad Newz Kennels," a dogfighting enterprise. The Hampton man also allegedly helped purchase pit bulls and killed at least two dogs that fared poorly in test fights.

Taylor's lawyer, Stephen Ashton Hudgins of Newport News, did not immediately return a phone message, and federal prosecutors have declined to talk about the case.

An 18-page indictment issued July 17 charged the four men with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. The maximum punishment is five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

According to the indictment, the dogfighting ring executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means. It alleges that the fights offered purses as high as $26,000.

The gruesome details outlined in the indictment have fueled protests and public outrage against Vick, the star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has banned Vick from the Falcons' training camp while the league investigates.

Charged along with Vick and Taylor are Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, and Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta.
All four remain free without bond. When U.S. Magistrate Dennis Dohnal set the conditions for their release Thursday, he commended Taylor for admitting to using illegal drugs despite never being convicted of a drug offense. He ordered periodic drug testing for Taylor.

Peace and Phillips each have drug convictions and were ordered to submit to testing, as well as an electronic monitoring program. Taylor was spared the electronic monitoring.

Neither drug testing nor monitoring were ordered for Vick.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/07/27/bc.fbn.vickco.defendant.ap/

 

[Indy Gal]

I made these banners, yes they are sad to look at, but this is the reality of dogfighting and the sad truth needs to be told - these poor dogs can't speak for themselves!

I must admit, I was oblivious to this kind of thing happening before Vick and the media publicity. I can only hope & pray that with this publicity and the public outrage, that harsher penalties and larger fines will be made law in all states.

If anyone wants to use a banner for their MySpace or whatever, help yourselves.

Please - write and email your local governments to make stricter laws against animal cruelty!!

You were not joking when you said you went crazy making banners. LOL Thank you so much!

 

[Buzz Mills]

I noticed this wasn't posted yet ~

Co-defendant doesn't want trial

RICHMOND, Va. -- One of Michael Vick's co-defendants doesn't want to wait for trial.

Instead, a plea agreement hearing has been scheduled for Tony Taylor at 9 a.m. Monday in the federal dogfighting conspiracy case.

Taylor's hearing was added to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson's docket Friday, a day after he and the other three defendants pleaded not guilty before the same judge. Vick and the others still are scheduled for trial Nov. 26.

Prosecutors claim Taylor, 34, found the Surry County property purchased by Vick and used it as the site of "Bad Newz Kennels," a dogfighting enterprise. The Hampton man also allegedly helped purchase pit bulls and killed at least two dogs that fared poorly in test fights.

Taylor's lawyer, Stephen Ashton Hudgins of Newport News, did not immediately return a phone message, and federal prosecutors have declined to talk about the case.

An 18-page indictment issued July 17 charged the four men with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. The maximum punishment is five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

According to the indictment, the dogfighting ring executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means. It alleges that the fights offered purses as high as $26,000.

The gruesome details outlined in the indictment have fueled protests and public outrage against Vick, the star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has banned Vick from the Falcons' training camp while the league investigates.

Charged along with Vick and Taylor are Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, and Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta.
All four remain free without bond. When U.S. Magistrate Dennis Dohnal set the conditions for their release Thursday, he commended Taylor for admitting to using illegal drugs despite never being convicted of a drug offense. He ordered periodic drug testing for Taylor.

Peace and Phillips each have drug convictions and were ordered to submit to testing, as well as an electronic monitoring program. Taylor was spared the electronic monitoring.

Neither drug testing nor monitoring were ordered for Vick.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/07/27/bc.fbn.vickco.defendant.ap/

If any of these guys receive only a fine, along with community sevrice, I am going to be very unhappy. The talking head defense attorneys are already saying Michael Vick won't serve any time, but will be heavily fined. To me that is just allowing him to buy his way out.

 

[panthera]

If any of these guys receive only a fine, along with community sevrice, I am going to be very unhappy. The talking head defense attorneys are already saying Michael Vick won't serve any time, but will be heavily fined. To me that is just allowing him to buy his way out.

I'm wondering if Taylor will testify against Vick?

 

[Indy Gal]

LOVE THEM!!! Order both dogs one, if they have them big enough..LOL I will try and wear it at work too!.

OT today at work a young couple brought their dog in to get a bath. A PB. They had just got him back thanks to his chip. He was taken in 3 minutes out of their yard and used as a bait dog. This poor baby was messed up bad. He had just got out of the vets office. He had been gone 2 weeks and was so thin. His head was huge compared to the rest. It was so sad i broke down and couldnt do anything for about 10 minutes. Which is very uncommon for me. As hard as it was to tell them I told them if they ever saw aggresion what so ever, no matter how small, they must had him put down. Thankfully these people were smart and agreed truthfully. It was just a hard thing, I had never seen it ya Know!

So those peole came back and were not the people I thought they were. Lets just say I hope I still have a job come monday morning. It is all in corp hands. But if I do lose my job, I cant say it was worth it. Although they made me delete all the photos I had taken, I still have a 17 second video. I just have to figure out a way to get their name and number!

 

[Indy Gal]

I'm wondering if Taylor will testify against Vick?

Dumb me thought that it he would half to if he pleaded. Guess not??

 

[panthera]

Dumb me thought that it he would half to if he pleaded. Guess not??

I'd think so too! The article doesn't say if Taylor is going to or not.

 

[evelyn24]

If any of these guys receive only a fine, along with community sevrice, I am going to be very unhappy. The talking head defense attorneys are already saying Michael Vick won't serve any time, but will be heavily fined. To me that is just allowing him to buy his way out.

Whatever to those defense talking heads.
TV talking head lawyers who comment on cases are the most out of the loop ignorant people ever.
We all know this. There have been cases that we've followed and know every little detail, then we turn on tv and hear some talking head tv lawyer screw up the facts about the case, then they go on to give his/her big important conclusion.
These guys are hardly ever right.

Besides, they are fools to think this judge will not sentence Vick to jail if he is convicted on most or all of the charges.

 

[Enrique Sparta]

Whatever to those defense talking heads.
TV talking head lawyers who comment on cases are the most out of the loop ignorant people ever.
We all know this. There have been cases that we've followed and know every little detail, then we turn on tv and hear some talking head tv lawyer screw up the facts about the case, then they go on to give his/her big important conclusion.
These guys are hardly ever right.

Besides, they are fools to think this judge will not sentence Vick to jail if he is convicted on most or all of the charges.

Agree with Buzzm1, I'm afraid another big time entertainer will buy his way out of prison. A mockery will be made of the justice system yet again.

And evelyn24 I agree with you too in that the judge is a good one and will sentence that sub-human piece of Vick to prison time IF he gets convicted. Unfortunately I think the best we can hope for is a hung jury. All the defense needs to do is make sure there are at least a couple of blacks on the jury. And you know the defense will probably make sure the jury is like 11/12 black. If you've been keeping up with the atmosphere at the courthouse and the opinions of people, it's split down the middle which is disgusting. Guess which side favors Mike Vick? This is already become another black vs white thing. And probably will end up just like the OJ case.

In fact look for not even community service, no fine, no nothing. The judge can't punish somebody who's voted not guilty. Don't get your hopes up guys.

At least when that scum Mike Vick walks around, everyone will know what type of person he really is. We're just gonna have to accept the fact that big time athletes will always be able to buy their way out of prison time. The laws really don't apply to them.

Personally, I'd love to for Mikey Vick to be tortured for a long while and then just put a bullet in his worthless head. Same for the rest of his dog-torturing cohorts. One of them wants a plea-bargain? For what? 1 second of community service and a two cents fine?

 

[SadieMae]

Agree with Buzzm1, I'm afraid another big time entertainer will buy his way out of prison. A mockery will be made of the justice system yet again.

And evelyn24 I agree with you too in that the judge is a good one and will sentence that sub-human piece of Vick to prison time IF he gets convicted. Unfortunately I think the best we can hope for is a hung jury. All the defense needs to do is make sure there are at least a couple of blacks on the jury. And you know the defense will probably make sure the jury is like 11/12 black. If you've been keeping up with the atmosphere at the courthouse and the opinions of people, it's split down the middle which is disgusting. Guess which side favors Mike Vick? This is already become another black vs white thing. And probably will end up just like the OJ case.

In fact look for not even community service, no fine, no nothing. The judge can't punish somebody who's voted not guilty. Don't get your hopes up guys.

At least when that scum Mike Vick walks around, everyone will know what type of person he really is. We're just gonna have to accept the fact that big time athletes will always be able to buy their way out of prison time. The laws really don't apply to them.

Personally, I'd love to for Mikey Vick to be tortured for a long while and then just put a bullet in his worthless head. Same for the rest of his dog-torturing cohorts. One of them wants a plea-bargain? For what? 1 second of community service and a two cents fine?

EXCUSE ME?????!!!
What's that got to do with this?? Are you saying Blacks on a jury will find him not guilty because he and they are Black? Or are you assuming Blacks will find him not guilty because they don't care about animals and they all don't find anything wrong with dog fighting and animal cruelty? What anybody around the courthouse says, or anyone else is nothing but an opinion, THEY ARE NOT ON THE JURY! And tell us "which side favors Vick"? (I hate guessing games.) What Vick is accused of is reprehensible...I don't care if he is a "brotha"!

I find your post ignorant and offensive..JMO!

 

[Indy Gal]

Off topic here, but why must we call Black People or African americans Blacks. I have always just hated that. I never hear white people whites. It just seems wrong to me I wont go any further as this isnt what this is about.
I also find it weird to compare this with the OJ case??

 

[evelyn24]

Where will this trial be held? At the federal courthouse in Richmond, VA?
If so, it will most likely be an OJ type case since apparently this has been split down color lines. Um....yahoo has a story on this issue, btw.
Richmond is majority black city so the jury pool will be heavily minority.

If he is not convicted, it will be an outrage beyond belief. I know, I know, I haven't seen all the evidence, but I've heard these stories from people around the area for a long time now about Vick and dog fighting.
In Maryland where I live, and in Virginia.

 

[Enrique Sparta]

EXCUSE ME?????!!!
What's that got to do with this?? Are you saying Blacks on a jury will find him not guilty because he and they are Black? Or are you assuming Blacks will find him not guilty because they don't care about animals and they all don't find anything wrong with dog fighting? What anybody around the courthouse says, or anyone else is nothing but an opinion, THEY ARE NOT ON THE JURY! And tell us "which side favors Vick"?

No what I'm talking about is when a well-publicized, high-profile case becomes less about the crime and more about the defendant and when it becomes a racial thing which has happened in the Michael Vick case. Sadly it's already become a black vs white thing. That's why you had white on one side and blacks on the other outside the courthouse. That's why in media you've got many wondering if Michael Vick is being targeted because he's black. (which is absurd) this is one of those things where all that nonsense is already taking center stage. The general opinion of the public DOES matter. Where do you think the jury pool comes from!?

 

[evelyn24]

EXCUSE ME?????!!!
What's that got to do with this?? Are you saying Blacks on a jury will find him not guilty because he and they are Black? Or are you assuming Blacks will find him not guilty because they don't care about animals and they all don't find anything wrong with dog fighting? What anybody around the courthouse says, or anyone else is nothing but an opinion, THEY ARE NOT ON THE JURY! And tell us "which side favors Vick"? I hate guessing games.

I find your post ignorant and offensive..JMO!

Yea pretty much.
Where have you been?
Sorry, but there is strong support in the black community for black men who have "made it." There is a duty and a loyalty there, and they will not bring him down, and side with the feds. Especially over dog fighting, which is something that's deeply entrenched in the hip hop/rap culture.

I guess we shall see.

 

[Enrique Sparta]

Where will this trial be held? At the federal courthouse in Richmond, VA?
If so, it will most likely be an OJ type case since apparently this has been split down color lines. Um....yahoo has a story on this issue, btw.
Richmond is majority black city so the jury pool will be heavily minority.

If he is not convicted, it will be an outrage beyond belief. I know, I know, I haven't seen all the evidence, but I've heard these stories from people around the area for a long time now about Vick and dog fighting.
In Maryland where I live, and in Virginia.

Yep see that's what I'm afraid of. This shouldn't be a black vs white issue but it's already become one. Michael Vick is not being singled out for being black. SOOOOO STUPID. If it were Tom Brady or Payton Manning, there would be just as much outrage. It's about the barbaric dog fighting, dog torturing, and dog murdering. However there has been so much talk in the black community about Vick being called out cause of his skin color.

And all it takes is common sense to see how guilty Vick is. Let's see federal indictment (cause the US Attorneys are gonna gamble on a case they're not sure of ya right!) Vick is a dog breeder! Hmmm let's see....yeah I'm sure he is just a normal dog breeder who wants to raise dogs and give people a pet! It's just a coincidence that a grand jury indicted him of barbaric dog fighting! YA RIGHT! I have some oceanfront property in Arizona I'd like to sell you if you believe that!

 

[SadieMae]

No what I'm talking about is when a well-publicized, high-profile case becomes less about the crime and more about the defendant and when it becomes a racial thing which has happened in the Michael Vick case. Sadly it's already become a black vs white thing. That's why you had white on one side and blacks on the other outside the courthouse. That's why in media you've got many wondering if Michael Vick is being targeted because he's black. (which is absurd) this is one of those things where all that nonsense is already taking center stage. The general opinion of the public DOES matter. Where do you think the jury pool comes from!?

You got part of it right...the media is showing who's on which side of the street. Hey his arraignment was in the afternoon...so don't those people have JOBS they're supposed to be at. The general public is NOT on the jury. The general public knows OJ was guilty, but it didn't render a guilty verdict,so what we think or know doesn't matter if we are not on the jury. Jury verdicts are not arrived at based on OPINIONS, but FACTS presented in court. Believe all the media spin you want about it being black/white thing. I don't know any Blacks who don't think he needs to put throught the ringer on this. Oh,and they're everyday working people, NOT gangbangers cheering Vick on. So don't lump all blacks in the category of saying they want him found not guilty, which is what you're doing.

ETA: Talk in what black community? Haven't heard anything here,so where is your information coming from?

 

[SadieMae]

Yea pretty much.
Where have you been?
Sorry, but there is strong support in the black community for black men who have "made it." There is a duty and a loyalty there, and they will not bring him down, and side with the feds. Especially over dog fighting, which is something that's deeply entrenched in the hip hop/rap culture.

I guess we shall see.

and in backwoods Appalachia too.

ETA: Good article on who fights dogs... http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm