Michael Vick Indicted By Grand Jury
Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Charged With Violating Federal Laws Against Dog Fighting
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State and federal officials load coolers of evidence into a truck as they search the grounds behind a home owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Smithfield, Va., on July 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick appears at the opening of The Tasting Room, an East Point, Ga., restaurant in which he is a partner, on March 14, 2007. On July 17, he was indicted on charges related to dog fighting. (AP)
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Vick and three others were charged with violating federal laws against competitive dog fighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.
Vick and the other defendants — Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony Taylor — were involved in an ongoing animal fighting venture based out of Vick's home in Smithfield, Va., from early 2001 to April 2007, according to a statement released by the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Vick faces $350,000 in fines and six years in prison if convicted of the charges.
Telephone messages left at the offices and home of Vick's attorney, Larry Woodward, were not immediately returned.
A woman who answered the phone at the home of Vick's mother said the family knew nothing about the charges.
On July 7, federal authorities conducted a second search of the Surry, Va., property owned by Vick that is the center of the dog fighting investigation.
According to court documents filed by federal authorities earlier this month, dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. For the events, participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and other states.
Fifty-four pit bulls were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.
During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether the dogs would be good fighters, the documents alleged.
Members of "Bad Newz Kennels" also sponsored and exhibited fights in other parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and other states, according to the filings.
On Vick's Web site, he lists his birthplace as Newport News, "a.k.a. BadNews."
The documents said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours.
Before fights, participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance.
Sometimes, dogs weren't fed to "make it more hungry for the other dog."
Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents.
Vick initially said he had no idea the property might have been used in a criminal enterprise and blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity.
Vick has since declined to talk about the investigation.
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Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."





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See all 180 Commentsrace, it's about stupidity.
They say that some good always comes out of every bad situation. About the only good thing that I can imagine coming out of this is that he got caught and now he shed light on this sick activity. I wont even dignify it by calling it a sport.
Aniamls can't vote, but we can. I hope that every person that hears about this story contacts their Congressman and Senators to demand tougher laws. Life in prison for killing and torturing animals for a persons own gain and entertainment sounds like a good start on justice to me. My mother always said....if a dog can't trust them, then I can't either!
Chaplain Nancy J. Cronk
Founder, Chair and Chaplain
Interfaith Association of Animal Chaplains
www.AnimalChaplains.com
Take action by at the very least boycotting the Falcons if they dont do the right thing, and writing and putting pressure on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell through their web site We can't save the dogs Vick has destroyed, but hopefully, this will set an example, as it has at least created some awareness of what people do to pit bulls. It would be a heinous crime if they let this poor excuse for a human being go with simply a fine, and community service.
Our sending comments to each other is not going to change anything.
"Mankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away." %u2014Confucius
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2/inxn53g4fdtxewk?
This is not only heinous and disgusting but it is a felony and should not be tolerated. Thank you .
Frequently, abusers of animals have ALREADY and ARE abusing human beings. Someone who mistreats his animal is a tell-tale sign that he doesn't treat his fellow man very well, either.
These "persons" or should I say these "animals" themselves should get the death penatly for the uniquiviacal curitly to those animal. What person in their right mind could get satisfaction from this.... what is happining to the human race?????
Posted by my2centss at 11:08 AM : Jul 18, 2007
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I am thinking of calling myself English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French, German-American......
P.S. spellcheck can't help if you never finished the 8th grade.
P.S. spellcheck can't help if you never finished the 8th grade.
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