Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted today by a federal grand jury for his alleged role in a dog fighting operation based out of Virginia. Aggressive pit bulls were bred to fight for bounties on the Smithfield, Virginia property purchased by the NFL star back in 2001. Some of the prize pools were as much as $20,000 dollars with the losing dog getting killed, the enterprise was known as “Bad Newz Kennels”.
The Atlanta Falcons report to training camp on July 25, 2007 with their first practice set for the following day. The odds to win Super Bowl XLII have been pulled off the board but Sportsbook.com had the Atlanta Falcons as a 60 to 1 long shot to become the 2008 Super Bowl Champs. Point-Spreads.com believes the odds will get adjust much longer for the “Birds” and tighter for everyone ahead of them.
The federal indictment was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and names Michael Vick and three other defendants: Purnell A. Peace,35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va.
Mike Vick K-9 Kennels and MV7 Inc. sold pit bulls and other breeds for “family pets” and the Atlanta Falcons quarterback denies all involvement with the fight group.
The 18 page indictment says "In or about April 2007, Peace, Phillips and Vick executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well in 'testing' sessions at 1915 Moonlight Road by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."
The 4 men allegedly hosted dog fights at the location where participants and dogs traveled from Maryland, New York, Texas, South Carolina & North Carolina with a fight as recently as April 2007. If Vick and the others are convicted on all charges they face a maximum of five years in prison.
