Vick Plea Deal Falling Apart?

How much? Want to give me 3-1 or 2-1 odds if you are that sure?

 

looks like the gambling thing is what he's trying to get out of. Says he never received any money from dogfighting.

Does this finally clear his good name?

 

His involvement in the gambling is listed in the statements of facts of the others as well as other witness testimony that was used to obtain the first indictment. Is that enough for Goodell to issue the lifetime ban?

 

isn't he still tied into the gambling though, by virtue of funding the thing? He may not have "bet" on the fights, but he (and I may spell this wrong) aided and abetted the operation--guilt by association here?

 

VICK ADMITS EVERYTHING

We've reviewed in detail the plea agreement signed by Michael Vick on Thursday, along with the statement of facts.

Notwithstanding the anonymous source who told the anonymous reporter at ESPN that Vick would not admit to killing dogs or to gambling, Vick admits to everything.

In paragraph 1, Vick pleads guilty to conspiracy to establish, maintain, etc. an interstate gambling enterprise and conspiracy to engage in interstate dog fighting.

In paragraph 2, Vick admits that the Surry County property to which he initially said he never goes was the main staging area for housing and training pit bulls for fighting.

In paragraph 3, Vick admits to being involved in dog fights at the Surry County property, and to participating in dog fights in other states.

In paragraph 4, Vick admits that the enterprise involved gambling activities in violation of Virginia law. Vick denies that he placed side bets on any fights, or that he received process from the purses. (However, he admits that he was the primary source of funds for the operation. If the winnings went only to his co-defendants, then that's less money Vick had to give them to get them to continue to tend to the operation while he was "at work" for the Atlanta Falcons.)

In paragraph 9, Vick admits that he began acquiring dogs for the operation in "2001-2002," and that the "Bad Newz Kennels" were established in 2002.

In paragraph 12, Vick admits that he knew the other defendants "killed a number of dogs" that did not perform well in testing sessions in 2002. Vick denies killing any dogs at that time.

In paragraph 32, Vick admits that in April 2007 -- the same month in which he say face-to-face with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and denied that dog fighting was occurring on his land -- he agreed with Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips to kill six-to-eight dogs that did not perform well in testing sessions. Here's the key passage:

"[A]ll of those dogs were killed by various methods, including hanging and drowning. VICK agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts of PEACE, PHILLIPS, and VICK."

Case closed. He admits to gambling, and he admits to killing dogs.

Someone at ESPN has some serious explaining to do.

(PFT)

 

i'm not sure how the gambling thing goes. I did wonder if he could appeal if the sentence was more than he wanted. But, if the judge follows the guidelines, i don't think he can appeal. But, that may just mean he can appeal if the judge doesn't follow prosecutors guidelines.



It says Michael Vick aka "Ookie" on the indictment.

 

nope, the judge isn't bound by the prosecutor's recommendations on the length of the sentence, nor can Vick appeal the sentence once he's agreed to take the deal. The judge can sentence him to the full five years if he wants. I think he will and that may make the state of Virginia back off on filing additional charges against him. I can't say what the other states where the dog fighting ring operated will do, they may want their shot at "Ookie" as well.

 

I told you that the gambling thing was going to be, in the end, a bigger issue. This will also save him from the IRS.

 

VA, if they tried him, would give him 'time served' anyway.

 

Here comes the IRS. Illegal income is taxable.