December 10, 2007

VIRGINIA – Suspended Atlanta Falcons Quarterback, Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison today for financing a dogfighting ring and assisting in killing pit bulls.

In a Richmond, Virginia federal court, Vick apologized to his family and the judge during the 90-minute sentencing held on Monday.

Vick faced a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended 12 to 18 months.

In August, the former superstar admitted to bankrolling “Bad Newz Kennels,” a dogfighting operation run on his 15-acre property in southeastern Virginia. Dogs that “failed to show enough fighting spirit” or lost matches were electrocuted, hung or drowned.

Vick publicly apologized and turned himself in on November 19 to begin serving his prison term in a state jail in Warsaw, Virginia.

Last month, Judge Henry E. Hudson sentenced three others involved in the operation. Purnell Peace will spend 18 months in prison. Quanis Phillips was sentenced to 21 months. The first co-defendant to plead guilty, Tony Taylor, will be sentenced on Friday.

Vick agreed to pay $928,000 for the care of the 54 pit bulls apprehended from his property. The remaining pit bulls are being cared for at eight organizations including the SPCA of Monterey County, Best Friends Animal Society in Utah and Bay Area Doglovers Responsible about Pit Bulls in California.

Vick and the three co-defendants still face trial on state dogfighting charges in Virginia. They are accused of promoting dogfights, torturing and killing dogs. Each felony count carries a maximum five-year sentence. Vick’s attorneys have requested a jury trial on these charges, which is set to begin in April.

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