Bad Newz for Michael Vick

Bad Newz Kennels is the dog fighting operation that was running on the property of Atlanta Falcons football quarterback Michael Vick. On April 25, 2007, police conducted a search of Michael Vick's Virginia property as part of an investigation related to the arrest of one of his cousins who was living there on drug charges.^[1] It was then that authorities discovered evidence of a dog fighting operation, including a jaw opening device and carpets stained with blood, and removed 66 dogs from the property^[2]. At first, Michael Vick denied responsibility and knowledge of the dog fighting operation and blamed members of his family for everything the authorities found, but in May of 2007 an anonymous source told ESPN that Michael Vick was one of the "heavyweights" in the dog fighting world, not only breeding and raising of dogs for fighting, but often betting up to $40,000 on matches^[3].

Federal authorities became involved in the investigation due to allegations that Vicks "Bad Newz Kennels" dog fighting operation spanned across several states^[4]. They eventually found more than 10 bodies of dogs buried on the property^[5]. On July 17, a federal grand jury indicted Michael Vick, along with three other men, on federal charges relating to their dog fighting activities^[6]. Michael Vick and the other defendants plead "not guilty" at an arraignment hearing, but two of the defendants later changed their plea to "guilty" and stated that all of the defendants participated in the execution and victimization of dogs, and that Michael Vick directly participated in the killing of about eight dogs^[7]. Ten days later, a guilty plea was submitted on behalf of Michael Vick which stated he was guilty of "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture". The plea document stated that "The defendant will plead guilty because the defendant is in fact guilty of the charged offense"[8]. Michael Vick signed a statement which stated that he was guilty of "...destroying or otherwise disposing of dogs not selected to stay with the ongoing animal fighting venture"^[9].

Michael Vick's dog fighting activities elicited protests from animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who called for the NFL to terminate his contract. As a result of Vick's actions, he has been suspended indefinately from playing for the NFL and has lost all of his marketing contracts. He was sentenced to 23 months in prison and three years of probation. He is currently interned at United States Pententiary, Leavenworth.

References

1. Dave Forster, Bill Burke and Kyle Tucker (May 26, 2007) Conflicting Images. The Roanoke Times. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
2. (May 25, 2007) Prosecutor says dog fighting investigation at Vick's property 'moving forward'. The Associated Press. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
3. Kelly Naqi (May 27, 2007) Source: Vick 'one of the heavyweights' in dogfighting. ESPN. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
4. (June 8, 2007) Federal agents serve search warrant at Vick home. ESPN.com news services Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
5. Dave Forster (July 7, 2007) Feds detail alleged dogfighting at Vick property in Surry. PilotOnline.com. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
6. (July 17, 2007) Sources: Vick and three others indicted in feds dogfighting investigation. The Smoking Gun. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
7. (August 17, 2007) Two co-defendants enter guilty pleas; no word from Vick. Daily Press. Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
8. (August 24, 2007) PLEA AGREEMENT. http://media.gatewayva.com/photos/rtd/20070824/vickplea.pdf Retrieved on May 29, 2008.
9. (August 24, 2007) SUMMARY OF THE FACTS. http://media.gatewayva.com/photos/rtd/20070824/vickplea.pdf Retrieved on May 29, 2008.