By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
Embattled Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick received more bad news Monday when one of his co-defendants pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to federal dogfighting charges.
According to CNN, Tony Taylor reached a plea agreement with prosecutors on charges of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture,
He will be sentenced December 14 and was not promised any sentence in return for his cooperation.
The charges stem from an operation allegedly conducted at a house owned by Vick in Smithfield, Virginia. Vick, Taylor and two others were indicted.
If convicted of the travel part of the conspiracy charge, it carries with it a statutory maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution. If convicted on the dog fighting charge, the defendants could face either one year in prison, a $100,000 fine or both.
According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in an ongoing animal fighting business based out of Vick's property from early 2001 through sometime in April of this year.
Since Vick purchased the property in June 2001, the defendants formed a dog fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" and used the property for housing and training pit bulls used in dog fights. From at least 2002, the defendants and others sponsored dog fights on the property and brought dogs from several states to participate in the events.
During the fights, the participants would place bets ranging from the hundreds to thousands of dollars. The fights would last until either the death or surrender of the losing dog, which would then sometimes be put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot, electrocution or other methods.
Also, the indictment said the defendants participated in dog fights in North and South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and elsewhere in Virginia.
Vick is set to stand trial on November 26.
The Phanatic Magazine
Embattled Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick received more bad news Monday when one of his co-defendants pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to federal dogfighting charges.
According to CNN, Tony Taylor reached a plea agreement with prosecutors on charges of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture,
He will be sentenced December 14 and was not promised any sentence in return for his cooperation.
The charges stem from an operation allegedly conducted at a house owned by Vick in Smithfield, Virginia. Vick, Taylor and two others were indicted.
If convicted of the travel part of the conspiracy charge, it carries with it a statutory maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution. If convicted on the dog fighting charge, the defendants could face either one year in prison, a $100,000 fine or both.
According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in an ongoing animal fighting business based out of Vick's property from early 2001 through sometime in April of this year.
Since Vick purchased the property in June 2001, the defendants formed a dog fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" and used the property for housing and training pit bulls used in dog fights. From at least 2002, the defendants and others sponsored dog fights on the property and brought dogs from several states to participate in the events.
During the fights, the participants would place bets ranging from the hundreds to thousands of dollars. The fights would last until either the death or surrender of the losing dog, which would then sometimes be put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot, electrocution or other methods.
Also, the indictment said the defendants participated in dog fights in North and South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and elsewhere in Virginia.
Vick is set to stand trial on November 26.
No comments:
Post a Comment