Michael Vick Co-Defendant Pleads Guilty

One of Michael Vick's co-defendants pleaded guilty Monday to federal dog-fighting conspiracy charges in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Tony Taylor, 34, who will be sentenced Dec. 14, said he was not promised any specific sentence in return for his cooperation with the government.

Taylor, of Hampton, Va., entered his plea in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Vick, the star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, and two other co-defendants pleaded not guilty last week to similar charges.

The offenses carry a maximum punishment of five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

Prosecutors claimed in a July 17 indictment that Taylor found the Surry County property that Vick purchased and used as the site of "Bad Newz Kennels," a dog-fighting enterprise. Taylor also allegedly helped purchase pit bulls and killed at least two dogs that fared poorly in test fights.

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Atlanta radio station V-103's exclusive interview with Vick

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According to the 18-page indictment, the dog-fighting ring executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means. It alleges that the fights offered purses as high as $26,000.

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

Vick and Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, are scheduled for trial Nov. 26. They remain free without bond.

Vick, meanwhile, lost another endorsement deal over the weekend. Upper Deck has removed all Michael Vick autographed memorabilia from its online store and will remove the indicted quarterback's trading card from NFL sets that are scheduled to be released in October.

The announcement by the San Diego County company came a day after Nike suspended its lucrative contract with Vick and Reebok took the unprecedented step of stopping sales of his No. 7 jersey. Another trading card company, Donruss, announced it was pulling Vick's likeness from any new packs.

"Of course we appreciate the fact that Mr. Vick is innocent until proven guilty, but the allegations alone have resulted in an outpouring of very strong emotion within our organization and among the collecting community," Kerri Stockholm, Upper Deck's director of marketing, said in a statement. "We believe collectors will agree and support this decision as being the best course of action for our football business."

Items pulled from the online store include autographed footballs, helmets, jerseys and the company's line of "Breaking Through" pieces. His card will be pulled beginning with the Ultimate Collection Football set.

A large crowd gathered outside the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon to show their support for Vick, reports CBS Atlanta affiliate WGCL.

"The American Judicial system is innocent until proven guilty," said Selena Adkins.

"If he's not given a fair shot, I won't be a season ticket holder," said Roderick Green.

"I say give Michael a fair chance. They act like he's already been convicted," added Dewanna McGruder.

[sjoy91006]

"agnim" the more he post the more he pathetically hopes that someone notices its lowly existence. I saw somewhere that animals eat their young, "agnim" your mother forgot to eat you. The only reason I would be afraid of meeting this freak of nature is I might step on it and it might be hard to wipe off.

%u201CCrabini%u201D was posting that 90 out of 100 are "Stupid"; personally I think it%u2019s more like 99 out of 100, it scares me to know the statistics, and it%u2019s frightening that nature can't filter out the defectives!
These are just too "Stupid", I am surprised they lived this long without killing themselves.
"trayfo34" , "chinesespy" , shutUPfreak"
"waynabq" is a "Stupid Leftist" who secretly has wet dreams about "Bush"
And the rest are either "Bleeding Hearts" or "***/***", But the high majority including myself make a "Big Deal" out of a man who gets paid to play a "GAME" with a ball and its not like he does anything important like finding the "Cure to Cancer" etc.

Very few post had substance and meaning to where all can gain from what was said. It seems to be typical on "Blogs/Forums" I think that 99 out of 100 is truer than we would like to admit?

[bite_idiots]

These are this list of pathetic losers that have no modesty in showing how inadequate they are to socialize or communicate even at a children%u2019s level.
"heroinmonkey" He has to post 8 times because he is accustom to people ignoring him away from cyberspace and if it sees his own post it thinks that redundancy breeds importance how sad.

Poor Ignorant Narrow minded Insecure Black people who "Yell Racist" in order to justify their existence;
"Scarface4lif%u201D, "deranda29" "lisajenn1012" "NoSleep365" are one of many.

Here are typical I am white or wanabees, so I think I am superior "True Racist" more than probable they are "Impotent little pee pee therapists dream client".
"seven-pesos" you are sad.

"Agnim" is a genetic reject who's only sexual experience was when it was cold, dark and it was alone, and the only trick it know how to do is "When it open it's mouth and it's head caves in!" and obviously has a limited vocabulary.

[kailumego1]

steftigger you are so correct, the NAACP shouldn't engage themselves in defending Vick's actions, because he's black, as this places them in a situation no better than those whites they repeatedly castigate.

I do find it pathetic that they are defacing and underminding heir cause for equality by taking a defensive approach on Vick's behalf.

I don't care what he has achieved superfically or monentarily, his success shouldn't exempt him from following the same laws we ALL have to abide by.

His behavior is inexcusable and I'm really surprised at some blacks running to his defense, when it is individuals such as Vick that have negatively impacted and eroded the psychological stability of the black communities, with this type of criminalistic behavior, and adversely influenced inner-city black youth.

How can you thwart inequality and discrimination by rallying for injustice, because it involves someone black, that's pathetic and unproductive.

When blacks align themselves with this oxymoronic-schizophrenic ideology, "white folks don't you circumvent the law, but it's O.K. if blacks do it, because they've been oppressed", it does nothing to remedy the situation only add to its frustration.

[scarface4lif]

I thimk Michael Vick is not guilty. The justice system is just trying to take down a famous black person who is doing something good with there life. If he wasn't living in the house while the dog fighting was going on he should not get in trouble for that.

[erdoc5]

Yes, people do a lot of bad things in their lives, and if they are good people at heart they admit their mistakes, apologize to the ones they have hurt and try to become better people. I am proud of Taylor for standing up and saying yes he did wrong and no he was not going to be a fall guy. I am proud for some in the African Ameriocan community who stand up and say this is wrong. I would not expect Vick to plead guilty, would you? Not many people do. That takes real courage.

[jckiller05]

i didnt think that mickeal vick should pleaded guilty cause people do alot of bad things in there life. Micheal vick has did things alot of people want to do. Like make it to the NFL in the first round and the first pick. Starting QB for the Atlanta Falcons. After seeing Atlants Falcons eight years ago my dream was to be like micheal vick. but it is one thing that make me different from him he is a QB and i am a WR. i will love to hear that micheal vick pleaded not guilty on monday. it will make me happy.

[erdoc5]

Here's another thought. First, Vick claimed he didn't live there and that the people who did were responsible. Ready to roll over on his "brothers". Now this guy Tayor comes foward and says no way I'm not taking the fall, and he is cooperating and says yes it was Vick's operation and financed by Vick!! So much for "brotherhood".

[erdoc5]

Only one problem AGNIM, IT'S AGAINST THE LAW. That's why we are considered a "civilized" society, because we torture is against the law (unless you're a terrorist, but that's a different story)

[griffithjone]

Never forget, where there is dog fighting there is also drug trafficing and child and elder abuse. All Americans should look upon dog fighting as a package deal: dog fighting, child abuse, gangs and drug trafficing. If you do not care about one of the above...maybe you care about another.

Make no mistake...these crimes hurt all people in America. And all types commite these crimes. It is not about wealth or color but about mental pathology.

Mr. Griffith Jones

[steftigger]

What in the world is the NAACP up to?

They are supposed to be trying to ADVANCE the cause of "colored people," instead, they seem to be trying to conspire with those who would SET civil rights back in time, by aligning their interests with those of indicted criminals, people who are at a minimum, insensitive to brutality (turning a blind eye), and at worst (per the indictment) perpetrators of horrible brutality on innocent animals. Way to Go! Great PR, guys.

Its very sad that the NAACP thinks it is ADVANCING progress for black americans by jumping to this guys defense. Says a lot about priorities, and makes it hard for white allies to continue to stand strong.

Should I keep arguing with white racists about how wrong they are in thinking this type of horrific crime is more often perpetrated by African Americans when you, the representatives of black america, are actually making it very hard for me to justify my own position, and you are BOLSTERING their claims with your defense of this guy based on shared racial identity alone?

Good grief. It's a sad sad LOW LOW day when this is an issue for NAACP urgent action.