that was the thought all along. the NFL can crack down much harder with the gambling angle. bigger issue to them.
Never even realized they had that angle.... NICE!!! Then the league can go after him again if convicted of the dog fighting
The league has cracked down for a LONG time on gamblers. It's been forty-four years since Paul Hornung and Alex Karras were suspended. Unfortunately for Vick, he isn't the same caliber of player those two were.
Well, that does come as a supprise. A nice easy way out of a bad situation for the NFL. They can still claim to let the trial play out but have Vick gone for the season (or more). Thats political gamesmanship at its best right there.
MORE "Bad newz" for Vick I realize everyone is tired of the Vick debacle, but here's the latest from da ATL.................... By CHRIS VIVLAMORE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 08/13/07 The two remaining co-defendants in the Michael Vick federal dogfighting case scheduled a plea agreement hearing Monday, an indication that they will plead guilty and testify against Vick. Purnell Peace has a hearing set for 9 a.m. Thursday and Quanis L. Phillips has a hearing set for 9 a.m. Friday in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va., before District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Last month, the third co-defendant Tony Taylor accepted a deal and entered a guilty plea. The agreement required him to testify against the others. "There's no telling until the actual pleas, but this doesn't sound like good news for Michael Vick," said Kent Alexander, once the U.S. Attorney in Atlanta and now Emory University's general counsel. "Usually, if people plead guilty early in a case they may be cooperating with the government. That's what it sounds like here." Taylor, who along with Vick pleaded not guilty to the charges July 26, promised to cooperate with federal prosecutors and share "detailed facts" for their case against Vick, Peace and Phillips. Taylor also signed a 13-page statement of facts outlining the charges against him, Vick and the two others, stating they are "true and accurate" and that had Taylor's case gone to trial prosecutors could have proved "these facts beyond a reasonable doubt." Judge Hudson set Taylor's sentencing date for Dec. 14. Vick, Peace and Phillips' trial date was set for Nov. 26 before Hudson. They face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Prosecutors could recommend a lighter sentence for Taylor depending on how cooperative he is, legal experts said, and that is why the court set Taylor's sentencing for a date after the trial. Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va., said little in court during his 15-minute long hearing last month. He and his attorney, Stephen Hudgins, declined to comment as they left the courthouse. A federal grand jury indicted Taylor, Vick and the two others this month on a single count of conspiracy to cross state lines to engage in illegal gambling; to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture, and to buy, transport and receive dogs for animal fighting. Taylor pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. ? Jeremy Redmon and Bill Rankin contributed to this report.
Plus this little jewel from ESPN this morning: Wouldn't this be interesting. This will be the first occasion I can recall where a sports or celebrity figure in a high-profile case could spare the world the circus and plead-out. Frankly, if these pleas carry jail time, I think the US Attorney is handling this the wrong way - at least the sentencing part. The run-up to indictment and everything to this point has been darn near perfect. This defendant has a pile of dough high enough to do far more than jail time would do to discourage dog fighting. Jail time is nice, but I'd be happier if Vick were levied (and accepted) a HUGE fine - something WAY outside the sentencing guidelines, and enough to fund a massive investigation to tear down the entire industry of dog fighting. He and his friends would also have to give up every single name and fight location, but I'd be surprised if that isn't already part of the plea agreements.
South Carolina Inmate Hits Michael Vick With '$63,000,000,000 Billion Dollar' Lawsuit Jonathan Lee Riches filed the handwritten complaint over "theft and abuse of my animals" on July 23 in the U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va. • Click here to read the filing against Vick.(pdf) Riches alleges that Vick stole two white mixed pit bull dogs from his home in Holiday, Fla., and used them for dogfighting operations in Richmond, Va. The complaint goes on to allege that Vick sold the dogs on eBay and “used the proceeds to purchase missiles from the Iran government.” The complaint also alleges that Vick would need those missiles because he pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda in February of this year. “Michael Vick has to stop physically hurting my feelings and dashing my hopes,” Riches writes in the complaint. Riches wants $63 billion dollars “backed by gold and silver “ delivered to the front gates to the Williamsburg Federal Correctional facility in South Carolina. Riches is an inmate at the facility serving out a wire fraud conviction. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293268,00.html :lol: :lol: :lol:
this better not be real. and if it is, i think he needs to be transferred to a different type of fascility
Vick being sued for $63 billion. "Pledges allegiance to Al Qaeda." Man says. didn't see it was posted already. my bad.
Prosecutor Gives Vick Deadline For Plea Deal POSTED: 6:42 am EDT August 16, 2007 UPDATED: 4:35 pm EDT August 16, 2007 http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13904880/detail.html RICHMOND, Va. -- The prosecutor in the Michael Vick case has warned Vick that if he refuses to accept a plea deal by Friday afternoon he will seek stiffer charges, including racketeering, against the Falcons quarterback. WSB-TV Channel 2 has confirmed a federal grand jury will meet in Richmond again Monday to consider those new charges against Vick. The federal court in Richmond has been especially harsh on defendants found guilty in racketeering cases. Vick would be the only defendant remaining in the dogfighting case. Plea agreement hearings are scheduled for Vick?s two remaining co-defendants -- one at 9 a.m. Friday and the other at 9:15 a.m. Friday. Both will appear in Judge Henry Hudson?s court. Channel 2?s Scott MacFarlane reports Quanis Phillips, the co-defendant from Atlanta, is en route to Washington. The court is requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring device. He'll spend the evening at the Richmond Marriot Hotel at 500 E. Broad Street in Richmond. MacFarlane said the news indicates that tomorrow's scheduled hearings will be a "go", as planned. The hearing for Purnell Peace was set for Thursday morning, but was rescheduled for Friday morning. Another of Vick's original co-defendants, Tony Taylor, pleaded guilty July 30 to taking part in a dogfighting conspiracy he said was financed by the Atlanta Falcons quarterback. As part of a plea agreement, Taylor pledged to fully cooperate with the government in its prosecution of Vick, Peace and Phillips. They are accused of running an interstate dogfighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" on Vick's property in rural Surry County, Virginia. Federal sentencing guidelines indicate a guilty plea on the charges ? Conspiracy to Commit an Unlawful Act and Sponsoring an Animal in an Illegal Animal Fighting Venture ? would land Vick behind bars for 12 to 18 months. Vick spent hours on the phone Wednesday with lawyers in Virginia, Atlanta and Washington. The conference call came two days after two remaining co-defendants scheduled plea hearings, presumably agreeing to testify against Vick if his federal dogfighting conspiracy case goes to trial. WSB-TV Channel 2's Scott MacFarlane reports Vick's attorneys have been trying to hammer out an arrangement that will allow him to continue to play in the National Football League. NFL officials have been mum on whether they would allow Vick to play if he is convicted on felony charges. ?That?s the dilemma Michael Vick faces right now. He doesn?t know what the NFL or the Atlanta Falcons will say and he?d like to have that information before he pleads. That?s what has him whip-sawed. He?s in a situation where he has to cut a deal with the government without knowing the consequences that are really important to him,? said University of Richmond Legal Analyst Carl Tobias. Observers familiar with the case now think it's likely Vick will enter his plea along with two co-defendants on Friday. If Vick?s name is added to the docket tomorrow if he does decide to enter a plea deal Friday, it will likely be scheduled and posted on the court calendar by the end of Thursday.
Vick's choice is cop a plea and go to jail for one year or fight it and go to jail for 6 years. In either case he can kiss his 123 million dollar contract with Atlanta goodbye.
