Vick admits dog killing, conspiracy

[sinkingfeeling]

Source: CNN.com

NFL star Michael Vick has admitted that he and two of co-conspirators killed dogs that did not fight well in papers filed Friday with a federal court in Virginia.

Vick said he would plead guilty to one count of "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture" in a plea agreement filed at U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia.

The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, "full restitution, a special assessment and 3 years of supervised release," the plea deal said.

Federal prosecutors agreed to ask for the low end of the sentencing guidelines.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/08/24/michael.vick/index.html

---

This man is a disgusting prick. I hope the NFL gives him a life-time ban.

[frylock]

1. i don't even think al davis would be foolish enough to give this guy a spot..

no, he's done. biggest waste of talent since Risky Williams.

[Spiffarino]

20. You gotta be kidding.

Al Davis would bring back OJ if he could still run.

[hang a left]

25. lol

you funny

[Sadie4629]

2. I hope so, too

but as long as he can complete passes, he'll probably be picked up by some team.

[Captain Hilts]

5. He doesn't complete enough of them. nt

[hlthe2b]

3. I wonder if dog-torturer/killers are viewed by some in prison

as they do pedophiles and child abusers.... There are bound to be some animal lovers in prison, I would think--even among the violent offenders. Just wondering, not wishing harm to come to him....


I do wish they'd throw away the key to his cell though. He is pond scum.

[BOSSHOG]

6. But he was set up

The "government and the media"conspired to bring the man down. They planted the dead and injured dogs on his property then put a gun to his head and the heads of others and forced them to plead guilty to something they did not do. Haven't you heard? Haven't you read?

[lapfog_1]

7. Nah...

one of the outcomes of the Pit Bull attack in SF a few years back (woman was mauled to death I believe) was the revelation that some prison inmates actually run Pit Bull breeding programs while in jail (the Pit Bulls in question were two such animals, being taken care of by the inmates lawyer). Many of these Pit Bulls were being bred for dog fighting.

[Sadie4629]

12. Those dogs weren't pit bulls

The were presa canarios. (Not sure about the spelling.)

[lapfog_1]

13. Yup... your right. Bigger dogs than Pit Bulls. my mistake.

I should have looked it up first.

[CountAllVotes]

15. that is the correct spelling

I was just reading about these the other day. They are bred and trained to kill in many cases. :(

:kick:

[erpowers]

17. Federal Prison

I doubt anything will happen to Vick in prison in that he is going to federal prison. From what I have heard federal prison is like going to club med for criminals. I hear that some of these prison look better than some high school and that some of them have tennis courts. I am not so sure that Vick will be house with any real bad people. It seems like he will be with investment bankers who went wrong and other white collar criminals.

[LanternWaste]

21. It's not the picnic that you've been led to believe...

My dad was in the Federal pen for approximately eight years. It's not the picnic that you've been led to believe. It's still hardcore and it's still punishment. True-- it's not as bad as the state pen (he did five in Huntsville, TX), but it's not the Club Fed radio talk show hosts go on and on about. I've never heard of or seen a tennis court in state or federal prisons-- at FCI, the 'sports recreation area' was a bare dirt lot w/ bleachers and chain link fences.

[nealmhughes]

27. The Club Med federal pen was on Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama.

I think the tennis courts and golf facilities were actually for the base, but that they may have groomed it and been allowed to occasionally play a round or two.

I don't recall what ever happened to that joint. It was weird, when I lived in Montgomery, I never saw a strip joint or tattoo parlor near MAFB, but I guess I was just used to Navy bases, where one can't swing a dead cat without hitting one at the gates!

[BadgerLaw2010]

40. If you get minimum security, maybe. Now, say, Atlanta Federal Pen...

Now there's a hellhole.

[CountAllVotes]

4. Vick belongs behind bars for life!!

kick & recommend

:kick:

[Greeby]

8. life-time ban?

Throw this slimy scumbag in solitary just for the hell of it :grr:

[OhioChick]

9. With a Bunch

of hungry pit bulls.

[Dervill Crow]

37. Or angry pit bull owners.

I'm a lot meaner than my little Staffie Princess Daizie.

[hlthe2b]

10. Just punishment?

The movie GLadiator comes to mind :mad:..... although I'd not want to give the lions indigestion....








Ok, ok, maybe I don't REALLY mean that.... maybe...

[erpowers]

18. Against Lifetime Ban, But

I think he just might get a lifetime ban due to all the things he admitted. I would not be surprised if Goddell handed down that decision.

[idgiehkt]

30. he's lying about the gambling though

the only purpose of running an operation like this is gambling. he is l-y-i-n-g.

[TwilightGardener]

11. If this fuckwad didn't play football, everyone would agree he's scum.

Proof that pro sports has WAY too much influence on our culture. He deserves to be locked away, for a long, long time. He's a fucking psycho.

[CountAllVotes]

16. you should read what the BBC is saying about Vick, etc.

Makes the USA and its citizens look like just fine, kind folk! (not!)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6960788.stm

:kick:

[idgiehkt]

35. amazing article, thanks for the link

kinda made me feel like a squashed bug...nice to see how it's viewed in civilized countries.

[northzax]

14. no, the NFL shouldn't ban him

for so much as one day. the shame and opprobrium associated with him should be enough.

[idgiehkt]

31. ahem

oppobrium
1 : something that brings disgrace
2 a : public disgrace or ill fame that follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or vicious

The Va case may take care of it. 5 years for each dead dog in the state of VA.

[mountainvue]

43. I'm hoping that Virginia steps up and prosecutes

him as well as the Feds.

[northzax]

44. Good word, ain't it?

It should be used more

[Spiffarino]

19. What's sad is he probably got it worse than a poor person

There are lots of people doing this. Most don't have anything approaching the money Vick has, let alone the star power. While I don't know about dogfighting specifically, I do know about a cockfighting ring that was broken up near here and the perpetrators didn't get anything close the the time and fines Vick is facing. In fact, the animal cruelty charges were minimal. It was the gambling that got them jail time.

Do I think the court should be more lenient on Vick? Hell no. But they should be more consistent in the way they punish offenders. This being a high-profile case, it raises suspicions in my mind that they're making an exception out of him rather than an example.

The animal cruelty laws have to be tightened up, I think, especially in the case of domestic animals. They've been bred to trust and depend upon humans. There should be ramifications for breaking that bond.

Next, we need to look at why major sports enterprises are appalled at this, but somehow always seem to look the other way at spouse/girlfriend abuse.

[sinkingfeeling]

24. This was a federal investigation. Cockfighting is illegal and punishable by various

jail terms and fines in all states except, I believe, Louisana.
Yes. It is illegal in almost every state, and most states specifically prohibit anyone from being a spectator at a cockfight. Recently many states have increased the seriousness of a cockfighting charge from a misdemeanor to a felony. In addition, the federal Animal Welfare Act prohibits the interstate transport of birds for use in cockfights to states with laws against cockfighting. We encourage prosecutors to indict those involved in cockfighting not only on illegal gaming charges but also for conspiracy to commit a crime and illegal gambling.



http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/animal_fighting_the_final_round/cockfighting_fact_sheet/

[idgiehkt]

33. all this stuff is essentially organized crime when you boil it down

all kinds of gambling, illegal drugs, unliscensed weapons, all kinds of 'practicing veterniary medicine without a liscence' from administering all the drugs and steroids and crap they put into these animals to pump them up and then fight their infections after the fights, not to mention where they get all those veterniary drugs etc cause it sure isn't legally. It's just shot through with wrong from tip to tail.

[idgiehkt]

32. they aren't being hard on him it could have been alot worse

had they gotten proof of the gambling he could be seriously screwed, talking about decades. If VA decides to throw the book at him it still could be. The animal cruelty charges are being tightened up. Floyd Boudreaux, a longtime breeder of fighting dogs, is facing 48 counts and could possibly die in jail (non famous (at least outside of dog-fighting, he's a legend in those circles).


LeShon Johnson didn't get ANY time for his bust and that was huge compared to this one 141 dogs seized and 20 people charged, I think they busted a fight and all he got was a suspended sentence and probation.
http://www.pet-abuse.com/profiles/1912/

LeShon Johnson
Alias: Krazyside Kennels
Gender: Male
Approximate Age: 32
Date of Birth: Jan 15, 1971
Location: Sperry, OK (US)

History
May 25, 2004 - Wetumka, OK (US)
Convicted: 21 Charged - Dog-fighting - 141 pitbulls seized

Sentence: Pled guilty to the following felony charges on December 20, 2005: One count of possessing dogs for the purpose of fighting, one count of encouraging dogs to fight, and one count of facilitating a dog fight. As part of a plea agreement, Johnson's sentence was deferred, and he was placed on 5 years probation. He was ordered to pay a $2,000.00 fine, $1,216.00 for court costs, and restitution in the amount of $5,000.00

[sandyj999]

22. I just hope that the judges favorite movies are..........

Old Yeller and My Dog Skip.

[moez]

23. I'm sick and tired

Of the blatant racism by so many DU'ers..

[hlthe2b]

42. Such BS...

I'm no NFL fan nor do I care about Vick's gender, race, nor any other characteristic. What I DO care about is blatant cruelty towards animals AND people. What this man has done is monstrous. Race has not a damned thing to do with it. I find it repulsive to think some might justify his behavior based on race--now THAT IS racist, if you ask me.

[erpowers]

47. Not Justifying

People who claim racism in the Michael Vick case are not trying to justify what he did based on race, they themselves question whether race is a motive for going after Vick. This is one of those issues where I did not see race as a major issue in that the federal government seemed to have a case against Vick. It was not some type of things where they were saying things about him and there was no proof whatsoever. Nor was it a case, in my opinion, where other white athletes had been known to have done the same thing, but were left alone.

I assume you are non-black so I will ask you to consider something. There is an actual issue of misttrust among some black in this country toward the justice system. On many occasions black people see black athletes treated a certain way and see a double standard in the way white athletes are treated for the same things. For me it is misbehavior. There are many white athletes who misbehave and noone seems to care, or it is just written off as boy being boys. I think with the Vick case some people look at things and ask the question, why is only Vick being brought into a court. This is a national issue. Is is actually possible that Vick was the only person the federal government could have gone after. For me I only hope the government continues to go after dog fighters and does not stop at Michael Vick. If it stops at Vick I will be very unhappy.

In addition, some black people think the reaction would have been different if this had been Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. I think some people and black people think the calls for Vick to lose his career is more about him being black then him doing something very bad. I think some people think that if this had been Brady or Manning people would have just said they were just good old boys trying to have some fun, not meaning any harm, and not in need of losing their career.

[Honeycombe8]

50. Yes, I've heard this. But I think that this thinking reflects...

an issue with mistrust on the part of some Af. Americans, and has nothing to do with the facts of the case.

There has been no famous white NFL player who has been found to have done this. There is no evidence that the reaction has anything to do with race. It is well known how much Americans love our dogs. And what he did was not just fight dogs...he personally killed them in a slow, torturous way....on at least several occasions. This is particularly cruel.

I was horrified and furious when I heard of this story. And since I don't follow football at all, I didn't know who Vick was or what race he was.

The laws are for everyone, white and black alike. It only harms race relations when either race surrounds a criminal of his own race and asks for the guy to get a pass because there is the possibility that some are judging him too harshly because of his race.

Besides...the kind of people who would hold Vick's race against him are also the kind of people who would be okay with the actions he committed. IMO.

[Honeycombe8]

49. You got THAT right! He's a disgusting excuse for a human being.

No apology would help. Anyone who's brain tells him that repeated cruelty towards dogs, over a long period of time, is okay...is probably beyond redemption. This is someone whose moral fiber was obviously altered at an early age. He doesn't belong on the streets, as far as I'm concerned. No dog or other animal is safe, when he is free.

But free he will be in due time. Will he play football for the NFL again? He shouldn't be allowed to...but football lovers being so consumed by the sport, and viewing its players as heroes of a sort...I think the NFL will take him back.

[SayWhatYo]

48. criticizing someone who committed a crimes but happens to be black is not racist.

I can tell you 100% that if he was a white dude then people he at DU would be saying the exact same thing. Now you can say that if he was white then it wouldn't be national news, I tend to disagree, but at least that's possible valid point. However, any national new story like this would have received the same feedback here on DU whether or not the guy was white, black, asian or purple.

*Am I understanding what you're getting at?

[BadgerLaw2010]

41. Judge is actually a dog owner.

[coco77]

26. After reading some posts about the Vick situation...

I can see why this country is so fucked up....

[erpowers]

28. Please Explain

Could you please tell me or the rest of the people posting what you do not like. Do you not like the fact that some people may still be supporting Vick? Do you not like the fact that some people think Vick should be behind bars for the rest of his life or lose any hope of haveing a career after he finishes his prison term.

[liberal renegade]

29. wow!

[David Zephyr]

34. He will never play professional football with the NFL again. He's toxic.

This guy is so toxic that no owner will ever even consider having him play. Ever.

He will have to do something else for a living. He threw his entire life away for the sick desire to murder dogs. What a freak.

I have not one ounce of pity for this man. None.

[idgiehkt]

36. ain't it the truth?

I just quoted an article somewhere (possibly in this thread, or the other one) that listed his earnings for the past few years or so. It's close to 100 million so I'll shed no tears if he loses his career, he'll be sitting pretty for the rest of his life. I know that you must be pretty jaded to become a millionaire and have what so many people would wish for and all you want to do is cause suffering and pain.

[David Zephyr]

38. $100 Million?!

Now I really have no pity for him. He's set for life. Meanwhile, those puppies suffered terribly. Grrrrrrrrr.

[idgiehkt]

39. here is the math done by a journalist

"I wrote last month that Vick's big money — $29.5 million — in his last contract was in the form of roster bonuses. It's going to be tough to get that money back because he fulfilled the obligations of those clauses by being on the roster in 2004, 2005 and 2006 when the bulk of that money was paid.

I simply can't feel sorry for Vick.

When examining his first contract, when he was the first player selected in the 2001 draft, Vick was paid $17.9 million during his first three seasons. On his next contract, signed in 2004, he earned another $48.5 million through last season for a grand total of $66.4 million paid by the Falcons since he entered the league. That amount doesn't account for whatever endorsement and appearance deals he received because of his NFL status."

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7153182

the language is confusing, I don't know whether the 'roster bonus' figure should be added to the 66 million but that doesn't include his endorsements (he had at least 4 companies drop him recently)
or any other sources of income. He is set for life regardless.

[TheWebHead]

45. he would've done himself a lot of good w/ a public apology

I'd say there's a chance he'll get a second chance because this is a nation of short attention spans and a year or two from now, the outrage probably will have subsided. OJ is about the only celeb we've had in the modern era who hasn't gotten another chance, and even he could've largely helped himself by admitting his crime, shielded by double jeopardy, and apologized to the Browns and the Goldmans.

[RedSock]

46. Vick admits dog killing, conspiracy

"conspiracy"

Does that mean this thread will be moved to the dungeon?

:tinfoilhat:

[WindRavenX]

51. I hope he gets the full jail sentence.

But I see he might get the "low end" of the sentencing...:cry:

[rollin74]

52. depends on the judge

as part of the plea deal, the prosecution agreed to recommend a low-end senctence. But the judge has the final say and this particular judge is known to be very tough. There is no guarantee that Vick is only going to get 12-18 months. It's also quite possible that the judge could refuse to accept the plea bargain and force Vick to go to trial.

I am with you in hoping for a long prison sentence for this scum.