JULY 17--NFL star Michael Vick was indicted today on a federal conspiracy charge for his alleged role in a dog fighting venture that operated from a Virginia property owned by the Atlanta Falcons quarterback. A copy of the indictment, filed today in U.S. District Court in Richmond, can be found below. The 27-year-old Vick, whose nickname is listed as "Ookie" in the indictment, allegedly established the Bad Newz Kennels in early-2001 in Smithfield, Virginia. It was this property, for which Vick paid $34,000, that the star athlete and his codefendants used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture and hosting dog fights." According to prosecutors, Vick and his cohorts began purchasing pit bull puppies in late-2001 and would eventually "sponsor" individual dog fights with purses as high as $26,000. In the indictment's most harrowing parts, federal investigators describe what happened to some Bad Newz Kennels dogs that either lost matches or did not perform well in test fights. After a March 2003 loss by a female pit bull, codefendant Purnell Peace, "after consulting with Vick," electrocuted the animal. In April, prosecutors allege, Vick, Peace, and Quanis Phillips, "executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well in 'testing' sessions." These animals, the indictment claims, were killed "by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground." (18 pages)
Flowery Branch ? The Atlanta Falcons issued a statement Tuesday night regarding the indictment of quarterback Michael Vick for his alleged role in a well-established dogfighting operation in Virginia.
"This situation has been troubling to many people, including our fans, during the last few months," read the statement issued by Matt Conti football communications coordinator. "With today's news, our club and team will continue to be tested as Michael works through the legal process toward a conclusion.
"We are disappointed that one of our players ? and therefore the Falcons ? is being presented to the public in a negative way, and we apologize to our fans and the community for that," the statement continued.
"Obviously, we are disturbed by today's news from Virginia. However, we are prepared to deal with it, and we will do the right thing for our club as the legal process plays out. We have a season to prepare for and training camp opens next week. Our plan is to continue to do everything we can to support our players and coaches."
Originally posted by: Queasy
Falcons respond
Flowery Branch ? The Atlanta Falcons issued a statement Tuesday night regarding the indictment of quarterback Michael Vick for his alleged role in a well-established dogfighting operation in Virginia.
"This situation has been troubling to many people, including our fans, during the last few months," read the statement issued by Matt Conti football communications coordinator. "With today's news, our club and team will continue to be tested as Michael works through the legal process toward a conclusion.
"We are disappointed that one of our players ? and therefore the Falcons ? is being presented to the public in a negative way, and we apologize to our fans and the community for that," the statement continued.
"Obviously, we are disturbed by today's news from Virginia. However, we are prepared to deal with it, and we will do the right thing for our club as the legal process plays out. We have a season to prepare for and training camp opens next week. Our plan is to continue to do everything we can to support our players and coaches."
AJC goes into details of indictment
Originally posted by: JAH
There are a lot of things wrong with this world and I'm not saying dogfighting is the worst, but for someone to get their jolly by watching dogs kill each other...that's just sick beyond belief.
Originally posted by: zinfamous
lol
EDIT: I believe the word of the day, once again, is schaudenfreude.
:beer:
Originally posted by: ballmode
One more black QB ruining it for the rest of the other black qb's... looks like only Vince Young/McNair/McNabb can salvage the claim...
Warren Moon is probably shaking his head too
at least the Colts have one less team to worry about
COLTS SUPER BOWL CHAMPS 2007!!! WOO WOO
Originally posted by: wyvrn
Originally posted by: chuckywang
Originally posted by: TheNinja
I bet they're glad they traded Schaub now.
My first thought as well. If they still had Schaub, they wouldn't miss a beat.
What makes Schaub more than a spare? He hasn't played that much, and when he has, it has been very mediocre. He has no track record, but then again, Vick was never that consistently good so maybe you are right