More Bad News For Vick - Co Defendents To Plea (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/sports...=7&cxcat=21

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.

 

[Mimo]

The "2 Live Stews" were on ESPN First Take this morning and mentioned this. I actually think this is good for Vick.

 

[flranger]

I'm thinking this is the best of news for the Falcons.....it will give them the best opportunity to have a clean break and just move on.

Anyone aware of if there is any cap relief for this type of situation. I don't think there is, and I know Atlanta can recover some of the signing bonus (pro rated portion) but they really should get cap relief if it becomes determined he can no longer play.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I actually think this is good for Vick.

Hi mimo,How so? :hookinmouth:J

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

The "2 Live Stews" were on ESPN First Take this morning and mentioned this. I actually think this is good for Vick.

Good for Vick how? Having 3 people all backup the circumstantial case the government put together?

 

[mad sweeney]

The "2 Live Stews" were on ESPN First Take this morning and mentioned this. I actually think this is good for Vick.

How? Seriously, how could this be good for him at all? All 3 of those guys rolling were coffin nails for Vick. If they're pleading down and admitting there was enough evidence to convict them in court it lends credence to the charges, and adds witnesses, against the 4th person, Vick. The feds aren't going to give these guys a deal unless they give something back. And Vick is the only thing anyone has to give. This is bad news for Vick legally and with Goodell.

 

[Sid Octane]

at this being good for Vick.

 

[AnonymousBob]

The "2 Live Stews" were on ESPN First Take this morning and mentioned this. I actually think this is good for Vick.

This should hook some large fish.

 

[Mimo]

I actually think this is good for Vick.

Hi mimo,How so? :hookinmouth:J

Vick is the one without any criminal history. Besides the other guys having records, they could also be on probation. Vick's team will paint a picture of how these guys are very "bad" people who want to do Vick in. This is just the small of it.On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

The "2 Live Stews" were on ESPN First Take this morning and mentioned this. I actually think this is good for Vick.

How? Seriously, how could this be good for him at all? All 3 of those guys rolling were coffin nails for Vick. If they're pleading down and admitting there was enough evidence to convict them in court it lends credence to the charges, and adds witnesses, against the 4th person, Vick. The feds aren't going to give these guys a deal unless they give something back. And Vick is the only thing anyone has to give. This is bad news for Vick legally and with Goodell.

That's how I see it also. I mean the deck was already looking very stacked against Vick and his buddies, but if his buddies are now on the side of the Feds, goodnight. Vick better start practicing witch craft or something to get out of this. The best case I see for Vick is to pleasd guilty to a reduced charge, sit out the year, while spending a little time behind bars, and pay a fine. Then asking for forgiveness and vowing to give his entire salary in 2008 to the Humane Society, or something like that. Even with all that I still wouldn't give him a very good chance of playing again...ever...

 

[John Black]

Vick is innocent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just kidding

 

[MarcO]

I actually think this is good for Vick.

Hi mimo,How so? :hookinmouth:

J

Vick is the one without any criminal history. Besides the other guys having records, they could also be on probation. Vick's team will paint a picture of how these guys are very "bad" people who want to do Vick in. This is just the small of it.On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

 

[Chaos Commish]

Espn reporting Team Vick met with prosecutors today and were told they had until Friday to plea bargain.

?????

 

[Mimo]

On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

Yeah I believe that is the quote he gave but remember all you need is one Vick lover on the jury in this case

 

[bostonfred]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

 

[Chaos Commish]

I actually think this is good for Vick.

Hi mimo,How so? :hookinmouth:J

There's rumors out of Richmond that the first guy to plea out said Mike was only financing the operation. He supposedley blamed himself and the others for the scope of the operation, including the gambling operation and the destruction of animals. If that's true, then the image of Mike torturing dogs and the larger legal issue of gambling may both subside. Some attorney on a legal blog (I cannot find at the moment) also wrote a long post about how the common perception that his friends have all rolled over on Mike is probably flawed.

 

[Sweat Hog]

[]On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

Yeah I believe that is the quote he gave but remember all you need is one Vick lover on the jury in this case

I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you.

3 co-conspirators AND 4 unindicted cooperating witnesses would have been too much for OJ to beat down.

AND, these are the feds. I'm pretty sure they'll do a good job of weeding out any blind hood rat Vick supporters from the jury pool.

 

[Joe Bryant]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Hi fred,But we don't know that they aren't negotiating with the Vick team do we?It could be that the other guys are the only guys taking the deals. Right?J

 

[mad sweeney]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Vick's the money behind the operation, allegedly, and you get the lower guys to roll on the bigger.

 

[Ozymandias]

On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

Yeah I believe that is the quote he gave but remember all you need is one Vick lover on the jury in this case.

So they get one Vick lover on the jury, and around Christmas they get a hung jury.

So the Feds reschedule the trial for October 2008.

Hasta la vista, baby.

 

[3C's]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Hi fred,But we don't know that they aren't negotiating with the Vick team do we?It could be that the other guys are the only guys taking the deals. Right?J

Right. And the other guys don't have a team of high priced lawyers working for them either.

 

[bostonfred]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Hi fred,But we don't know that they aren't negotiating with the Vick team do we?It could be that the other guys are the only guys taking the deals. Right?J

Yes, that's a fair statement. We don't know what the deals are, either, so maybe Vick's lawyer thinks he can do better. Or maybe he thought so until his co-defendents flipped. But if you look at the motivation and who took the deals, it sure does seem like the feds are more interested in nailing Vick than in making sure justice is served. I do know this, though - the guys who flipped are the lowest level of dirtbag out there, because even if you could somehow rationalize the dog thing as being "just dogs", they flipped on their friend. If Vick goes to prison, I wouldn't blame him for spending a hundred grand or so making sure that the things he doesn't want happening to him DO happen to those guys, because they've ruined his life.

 

[videoguy505]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Mike Vick is free to plead guilty whenever he wants. I don't see how that's unfair.

 

[twistd]

I'm thinking this is the best of news for the Falcons.....it will give them the best opportunity to have a clean break and just move on.Anyone aware of if there is any cap relief for this type of situation. I don't think there is, and I know Atlanta can recover some of the signing bonus (pro rated portion) but they really should get cap relief if it becomes determined he can no longer play.

Why should they get cap relief? If a player goes down injured you don't get cap relief. If a player gets suspended for flunking a drug test, like Ricky Williams, you don't get cap relief. The Falcons hired a guy who it turns out is a scumbag. And they signed him to a contract that pays him $130 million. They don't get sympathy for that.

 

[Da Guru]

Vick now has to cut a deal with the Feds.

My feeling is this will never go to trial after these events.

 

[simey]

Yes, that's a fair statement. We don't know what the deals are, either, so maybe Vick's lawyer thinks he can do better. Or maybe he thought so until his co-defendents flipped. But if you look at the motivation and who took the deals, it sure does seem like the feds are more interested in nailing Vick than in making sure justice is served. I do know this, though - the guys who flipped are the lowest level of dirtbag out there, because even if you could somehow rationalize the dog thing as being "just dogs", they flipped on their friend. If Vick goes to prison, I wouldn't blame him for spending a hundred grand or so making sure that the things he doesn't want happening to him DO happen to those guys, because they've ruined his life.

Vick is responsible for the pitfalls in his life. He could plea if he wanted to, but his entourage of lawyers, and his own arrogance will probably keep that from happening. The others don't have a team of million dollar lawyers like Vick does. I'm sure the other defendents know the evidence against them, and you can't blame them for doing what is best for themselves, not what is best for Michael Vick.

 

[Jiggyonthehut]

Vick is innocent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Just kidding

Terrible Shtick, 0/5

 

[BoltzNBrew]

Vick pleads out, takes the year off for suspensions and 6 months jail, gets out and does serious damage control, and comes back (somewhere) next year.

 

[twistd]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Vick is the bankroll of the operation. Without his money it doesn't happen. So he is the boss, and they go after the boss.

 

[Stunt Rock]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

They want all of them convicted and so far they're going to get to lock up 3 of the 4 people they want to get. That pretty much ensures that they'll nail everyone, including the alleged mastermind. I don't see what's wrong with that.

 

[Joe Bryant]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Hi fred,But we don't know that they aren't negotiating with the Vick team do we?

It could be that the other guys are the only guys taking the deals. Right?

J

Yes, that's a fair statement. We don't know what the deals are, either, so maybe Vick's lawyer thinks he can do better. Or maybe he thought so until his co-defendents flipped. But if you look at the motivation and who took the deals, it sure does seem like the feds are more interested in nailing Vick than in making sure justice is served. I do know this, though - the guys who flipped are the lowest level of dirtbag out there, because even if you could somehow rationalize the dog thing as being "just dogs", they flipped on their friend. If Vick goes to prison, I wouldn't blame him for spending a hundred grand or so making sure that the things he doesn't want happening to him DO happen to those guys, because they've ruined his life.

If he does go to prison, wouldn't it be more fair to say Vick ruined his life?J

 

[Capella]

at this being good for Vick.

 

[Stunt Rock]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Hi fred,But we don't know that they aren't negotiating with the Vick team do we?It could be that the other guys are the only guys taking the deals. Right?J

Yes, that's a fair statement. We don't know what the deals are, either, so maybe Vick's lawyer thinks he can do better. Or maybe he thought so until his co-defendents flipped. But if you look at the motivation and who took the deals, it sure does seem like the feds are more interested in nailing Vick than in making sure justice is served. I do know this, though - the guys who flipped are the lowest level of dirtbag out there, because even if you could somehow rationalize the dog thing as being "just dogs", they flipped on their friend. If Vick goes to prison, I wouldn't blame him for spending a hundred grand or so making sure that the things he doesn't want happening to him DO happen to those guys, because they've ruined his life.

I think you need to stay away from magnets because your moral compass is totally out of whack.

 

[Capella]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Mike Vick is free to plead guilty whenever he wants. I don't see how that's unfair.

 

[Capella]

He's completely screwed now. They have him dead to rights. Whatever is being offered to him he should take, immediately.

 

[twistd]

Vick pleads out, takes the year off for suspensions and 6 months jail, gets out and does serious damage control, and comes back (somewhere) next year.

That will never happen. If Vick pleads guilty he is admitting that this is true. That means he lied to Arthur Blank, and he lied to Goodell in April. If he admits guilt he will never wear an NFL uniform again.

 

[Gottabesweet]

That long break on the post about him being innocent was a waste.

seriously.

 

[Tommy Collins]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Hi fred,But we don't know that they aren't negotiating with the Vick team do we?It could be that the other guys are the only guys taking the deals. Right?J

Yes, that's a fair statement. We don't know what the deals are, either, so maybe Vick's lawyer thinks he can do better. Or maybe he thought so until his co-defendents flipped. But if you look at the motivation and who took the deals, it sure does seem like the feds are more interested in nailing Vick than in making sure justice is served. I do know this, though - the guys who flipped are the lowest level of dirtbag out there, because even if you could somehow rationalize the dog thing as being "just dogs", they flipped on their friend. If Vick goes to prison, I wouldn't blame him for spending a hundred grand or so making sure that the things he doesn't want happening to him DO happen to those guys, because they've ruined his life.

They have a lot less to lose than Vick does. When you have a lot to lose, there is no incentive to pleading guilty to anything like this. Not unless it was a severely reduced charge. And that's not going to happen given the amount of publicity this case has received.

 

[Tom Servo]

On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

Yeah I believe that is the quote he gave but remember all you need is one Vick lover on the jury in this case

I think you'll find that when the Feds round up people from a jury, they draw them from the whole district of Richmond (or any other area), not just the city of Richmond. People will be on that jury from all around northern and central Virginia.

 

[fatness]

More Bad News For Vick

 

[Chaos Commish]

More Bad News For Vick

Hey now! They didn't ask permission to use my likeness all over that page.But I think I'll buy some of those for the mutts.

 

[Tom Servo]

More Bad News For Vick to get chewed up this year

FIXED!!!

 

[To commish is my wish]

Vick contemplating plea deal, report says

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20253462/

Apologies if already posted.

 

[gianmarco]

Vick pleads out, takes the year off for suspensions and 6 months jail, gets out and does serious damage control, and comes back (somewhere) next year.

That will never happen. If Vick pleads guilty he is admitting that this is true. That means he lied to Arthur Blank, and he lied to Goodell in April. If he admits guilt he will never wear an NFL uniform again.

Fixed.

 

[Billy1x]

On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

Yeah I believe that is the quote he gave but remember all you need is one Vick lover on the jury in this case

I think you'll find that when the Feds round up people from a jury, they draw them from the whole district of Richmond (or any other area), not just the city of Richmond. People will be on that jury from all around northern and central Virginia.

It s a federal trial across state borders. It has nothing to do with the state of Virgina.

 

[bostonfred]

The feds shouldn't want Vick convicted any more than they want the rest of the defendants, but they're plea bargaining with the least famous ones. That's just wrong.

Hi fred,But we don't know that they aren't negotiating with the Vick team do we?

It could be that the other guys are the only guys taking the deals. Right?

J

Yes, that's a fair statement. We don't know what the deals are, either, so maybe Vick's lawyer thinks he can do better. Or maybe he thought so until his co-defendents flipped. But if you look at the motivation and who took the deals, it sure does seem like the feds are more interested in nailing Vick than in making sure justice is served. I do know this, though - the guys who flipped are the lowest level of dirtbag out there, because even if you could somehow rationalize the dog thing as being "just dogs", they flipped on their friend. If Vick goes to prison, I wouldn't blame him for spending a hundred grand or so making sure that the things he doesn't want happening to him DO happen to those guys, because they've ruined his life.

If he does go to prison, wouldn't it be more fair to say Vick ruined his life?J

Oh absolutely. I didn't mean that to take blame off of Vick. If this stuff is true, he's a dirtbag, too. But that wouldn't change the fact that the co defendants are hoping to accept a smaller sentence for doing the same stuff way more often in return for flipping on the guy who has been hooking them up for years. Those guys are pure evil.

 

[3C's]

On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

Yeah I believe that is the quote he gave but remember all you need is one Vick lover on the jury in this case

I think you'll find that when the Feds round up people from a jury, they draw them from the whole district of Richmond (or any other area), not just the city of Richmond. People will be on that jury from all around northern and central Virginia.

It s a federal trial across state borders. It has nothing to do with the state of Virgina.

But the jury would usually be made up of Richmond locals.

 

[3C's]

Question for anyone that knows...maybe if Wimer is around he can answer. If the remaining 3, Vick Peace and Phillips, reach plea agreements before going to trial and before more charges are brought up, can they still be charged with more crimes? Like tax evasion? There's the talk of a superseding indictment. If they all plea out does that end all their federal legal problems? I say fed because the state/locals can still go after them.

 

[Tommy Collins]

On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

Yeah I believe that is the quote he gave but remember all you need is one Vick lover on the jury in this case

I think you'll find that when the Feds round up people from a jury, they draw them from the whole district of Richmond (or any other area), not just the city of Richmond. People will be on that jury from all around northern and central Virginia.

It s a federal trial across state borders. It has nothing to do with the state of Virgina.

But the jury would usually be made up of Richmond locals.

Not if they feel there cannot be a fair trial.

 

[3C's]

On a side note, I think it will be VERY HARD to find 12 people to convict Vick in Richmond, VA. This is the area he has grown up in all his life plus went to school in the area. You are going to be hard pressed to find 12 people in this area to agree he is guilty.

because.... Everywhere you go, all around the world, people are gonna support Mike Vick. Regardless of what he goes through, people are going to love him, man. You know, it’s all good...

Yeah I believe that is the quote he gave but remember all you need is one Vick lover on the jury in this case

I think you'll find that when the Feds round up people from a jury, they draw them from the whole district of Richmond (or any other area), not just the city of Richmond. People will be on that jury from all around northern and central Virginia.

It s a federal trial across state borders. It has nothing to do with the state of Virgina.

But the jury would usually be made up of Richmond locals.

Not if they feel there cannot be a fair trial.

Right. But being an NFL "star" they'd have the same problems no matter where they pull jurors from. But there are actually a few people who don't watch football and have no idea who he is.