Indictment details extensive dogfighting operationBy SAEED AHMEDThe Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPublished on: 07/17/07 A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for his alleged role in a well-established dogfighting operation in Virginia where breeders fought pit bulls for purses as high as $26,000 and losing dogs were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot to death.The National Football League, where Vick is one of the highest-paid players, called the activities alleged in the indictment "cruel, degrading and illegal."In addition to Vick, 27, the 18-page federal indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, also names three other defendants: Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va.The Virginia federal court is expected to set an initial hearing date Wednesday, according to spokesman Jim Rybicki. That hearing will not likely occur this week, but most likely within the next two weeks.Vick will not be arrested but will be issued a summons to appear at that initial hearing, Rybicki said.The grand jury charged that the four used a parcel of land in Smithfield, Va., to serve as the main staging area to house and train pit bulls and to host fights.The indictment said the four established a kennel, purchased pit bulls, trained and bred them, and played host to several dogfights attended by competitors from at least seven states.The men also traveled to several states to fight their dogs.In at least two instances, in 2003 — no dates were specified but Vick sat out much of that season with a foot injury — Vick traveled from Atlanta to South Carolina to participate in dogfights, according to the indictment.The dogs that fared poorly, as well as those that didn't perform well in test fights, met a cruel fate, the grand jury concluded."In or about April 2007," the indictment said, "Peace, Phillips and Vick executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well ... by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."The men are all charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.If convicted on the travel portion of the charge, each man faces up to five years in federal prison. If convicted on the animal fighting portion, each is looking at a year behind bars.The NFL said that it will review the matter under the league's personal conduct policy."We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him," it said in a statement.Vick nor his lawyer, Larry Woodward, could be reached for comment. In the past, Vick has denied any involvement in dog fighting.In his one statement on the issue, speaking from New York before the NFL Draft, Vick told the AJC that his relatives were responsible for his trouble.The grand jury apparently thought differently.Starting the ventureAccording to prosecutors, in June 2001 Vick paid $34,000 to purchase a property in Smithfield, Va. He and the three men formed a dogfighting enterprise that they named "Bad Newz Kennels."Urban Dictionary lists Bad Newz as the street name for Newport News, Va., Vick's hometown.The men set about purchasing dogs and puppies from several sellers, paying in one case about $1,000 for four pit bull puppies.The men, aided by others, then made alterations to the property, such as erecting a fence to shield the back of the compound from public view.Also included in the alterations, according to the indictment: "kennels and buried car axles with chains for the pit bulls. The buried car axles allow the dog chains to pivot, allowing the pit bulls to avoid getting tangled in the chains."The men also ordered shirts and headbands advertising their crew.The following year, in 2002, Peace and Vick "rolled" or tested some of the fighting dogs in short fighting matches, the indictment said. That February, Peace killed a poor-performing pit bull by shooting it with a .22 caliber pistol. And as the months went on, all four defendants are accused of shooting dogs that didn't live up to fighting standards.Soon afterward, the defendants either hosted dogfights at the property or took their dogs to events. Page after page of the indictment details several fights involving dogs with names such as "Seal," "Maniac," and "Zebro."Participants traveled to the property from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas, Alabama and elsewhere.The purse for each fight would range into thousands of dollars, and each bout would last until one of the dogs died or limped away. A purse for one such fight was established at $13,000 per side, meaning that the winner stood to win $26,000.The fights followed strict rules, other court documents show.The competing dogs had to be of the same gender and could not vary in weight more than half a pound. They were bathed immediately before fights to make sure their coats were not "tainted" with a drug or poison that might hinder an opponent. Sometimes they were starved to make them more vicious in the pit.The losing dog would be put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot, electrocution or a different method, the indictment alleges."In or about March of 2003," the indictment said, "Peace, after consulting with Vick about the losing female pit bull's condition, executed the losing dog by wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting the animal."As late as April 2007, the four men continued fighting the dogs — "approximately 54 American Pit Bull Terriers, some of which had scars and injuries appearing to be related to dog fighting; a 'rape stand,' a device in which a female dog who is too aggressive to submit to males for breeding is strapped down with her head held in place by a restraint," and more, the indictment said.Raid at property led to indictmentTuesday's indictment of Vick stems in part from an April drug arrest involving Vick's cousin, Davon Boddie, who listed his address as 1915 Moonlight Rd., in Surry County, Va., roughly 20 miles from Vick's hometown of Newport News, Va.When police went to the house with a search warrant, they found roughly 66 dogs, mainly pit bulls, and evidence to suggest dogfighting.Federal authorities started their own investigation of the property in early June, digging up the grounds of the estate twice, and finding dog carcasses and other evidenceIt was reported that Vick sold the house just after the investigation began in April. However, no paperwork on the sale has been filed with the county.Local and state authorities in Virginia have been staging their own investigation since late April and could send their case to a grand jury next Tuesday. Commonwealth attorney Gerald Poindexter, the local prosecutor, was unavailable for comment. Surry County Sheriff Harold Brown did not return a phone message.Vick has bred and sold pit bulls and other breeds through two companies: Mike Vick K-9 Kennels and MV7 Inc., named for his initials and his football jersey number. The companies' Web site — recently taken offline — described their animals as "family pets.""We do not promote, support or raise dogs for fighting, " the Web site said, "and will not knowingly sell, give or trade any dog that may be used for fighting."Vick and the Falcons are scheduled to begin practice for the upcoming season July 26.— Staff writers Jeremy Redmon and Juanita Cousins contributed to this story
Joey Harrington, LOL 
Uh, check page 3 or 4 of this thread. There's a clause in his contract that VOIDS it if he does something that's not in the best interests of his team. If convicted, they won't owe him a dime.
@ ILUVTHEBACKPEDAL99
