Michael Vick

[MJZiggy]

Careful with that...

[oregonpackfan]

Hey!! Happy 1,000 posts, PIPL!!

I honestly didn't realize.
Thank you!

PIPL,

If the two of us combined our respective posts, do you think we could catch MJZiggy in the next month(year)(century)?

[MJZiggy]

Not if I keep congratulating you on each milestone. And not if people keep talking about my favorite team (but that kinda is the whole point, isn't it?)

[Bretsky]

Hey!! Happy 1,000 posts, PIPL!!

I honestly didn't realize.
Thank you!

PIPL,

If the two of us combined our respective posts, do you think we could catch MJZiggy in the next month(year)(century)?

If you both quit your jobs at least you'd have a fighting chance

[packinpatland]

Hey!! Happy 1,000 posts, PIPL!!

I honestly didn't realize.
Thank you!

PIPL,

If the two of us combined our respective posts, do you think we could catch MJZiggy in the next month(year)(century)?

You, me and at least 4 others!!!

[GBRulz]

If you both quit your jobs at least you'd have a fighting chance

[GBRulz]

speaking of posts.... I think this was about the number where I was at before PR crashed a few months back. Dayum, it's taken me this long to catch up??

[BallHawk]

speaking of posts.... I think this was about the number where I was at before PR crashed a few months back. Dayum, it's taken me this long to catch up??

Quality over quality.

Woody has so many posts because during the Canadian winter he shells up in his house and posts about 40 articles a day.

MJ, uh....I really don't have an excuse for her. Maybe she just has a lot of time on her hands.....





I kid, I kid.

[GBRulz]

ha! Right on...Woody posts books, not posts.

[packinpatland]

ha! Right on...Woody posts books, not posts.

Good thing he doesn't get credit 'per line'.

[Scott Campbell]

Looks like Mike has the Feds to worry about now.

Federal involvement is not good news for Vick

By Lester Munson
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: June 15, 2007

It was a bit of a surprise when federal agents raided the compound owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Surry County, Va., last week and took over an investigation into allegations of dogfighting. Even the local authorities in Surry who've been conducting their own probe were stunned by the federal action. Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter said, "I'm amazed, to be quite honest."

The government's action raises questions. Here are some answers . . .

Federal investigators have been scouring Michael Vick's property in rural Virginia looking for evidence of dogfighting. What's going on? And how did the U.S. government become involved?

Using powerful laws that were enacted only a month ago (a bill known as HR 137), agents of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are determining whether Vick and others should be prosecuted for promoting and sponsoring dogfights. The new federal law makes it a felony to organize a dogfight. A subdivision of the Agriculture Department is pursuing similar cases elsewhere with considerable support from humane societies and local police departments. The Vick investigation is one of many across the U.S.

Is this something Vick should worry about?

Definitely. The local police and the county prosecutor were taking their time in their investigation of Vick and the 66 dogs seized on his property. Poindexter, the Commonwealth's Attorney, refused to execute a search warrant on Vick's property, and that's a rare event in the world of law enforcement. In fact, he actually let the warrant expire, creating the impression that things might be worked out in a friendly settlement with the local authorities. But the day after the county search warrant expired, the USDA agents were on the scene armed with their own search warrant. So instead of reluctant local cops, Vick appears now to be up against the might of the federal government.

What can the federal government do to Vick?

The USDA and other federal agencies will now be sifting through all aspects of his life. The dogfighting investigation easily could grow into examinations of his income, taxes and other holdings. If they find sufficient evidence, the federal agencies will submit it to the U.S. Department of Justice and then, possibly, to a grand jury for indictment.

Are they doing this just because Vick is a famous quarterback?

No. The USDA and the humane societies are engaged in a major effort to end animal fighting in the U.S. They are interested in people who promote and sponsor dogfights. It might matter to some of the animal-rights lobbyists who can use Vick's celebrity to promote their causes; but legally, Vick's football success is inconsequential. In Dayton, Ohio, for example, the USDA and other federal and state agencies investigated a dogfighting operation for 14 months, seized 64 dogs, and indicted nine people. Last week, state authorities in Ohio charged another 38 who were involved in the same scheme. All 38 are charged with state felonies. Although that investigation began with a dogfighting conspiracy, it quickly led to drug, gun and gambling charges as well. The charges even include bartered purchases of food stamp machines. The payments for the food stamp machines, which produce valuable food stamps for use as cash in retail stores, included a stolen Corvette and wholesale quantities of cocaine.

Is dogfighting illegal everywhere?

Yes. It's a felony in 48 states and a misdemeanor in Wyoming and Idaho. But the new federal law trumps state laws. If you're involved in dogfighting, you now face the prospect of a federal prosecution with agents of the USDA, FBI and IRS coming after you.

Can people be sent to jail for dogfighting?

Yes. As the result of the new federal laws, jail is a probability upon conviction. Until last month, a federal dogfighting charge was a misdemeanor and likely would result in probation and a fine. Now, it's a felony that comes with a sentence of as many as five years in jail.

What will happen to Vick's house and the black buildings in the backyard where, investigators suspect, dogfighting was carried out?

Now that the federal government is involved, there is a real possibility that the house and the land will be forfeited to the government. If charges are filed against Vick or anyone else, the government will demand that the property be taken from Vick. Vick is in the process of selling the real estate to an unknown buyer, but the sale might not happen if federal charges are filed. In the Ohio case, the federal prosecutors are asking for similar forfeitures.

Vick apparently wasn't living in the house. What will happen to the people who were?

Their situation is just as bad as the dilemma facing Vick. If investigators determine that dogfighting, in fact, was taking place there and Vick is able to convince authorities that he was not involved, then the focus of the probe will turn to those who were training and fighting the dogs found on the property. They will be subject to the same tougher laws that Vick now faces.

If he was involved but not actually in attendance at the dogfights, though, Vick could still be charged under the law's prohibition of sponsorship or promotion of dogfighting.

ESPN.com's Lester Munson is a Chicago lawyer and journalist who has been reporting on investigative and legal issues in the sports industry for 18 years.

[packinpatland]

ha! Right on...Woody posts books, not posts.

Great Avatar, GB

[Bretsky]

Looks like Mike has the Feds to worry about now.

Federal involvement is not good news for Vick

By Lester Munson
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: June 15, 2007

It was a bit of a surprise when federal agents raided the compound owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Surry County, Va., last week and took over an investigation into allegations of dogfighting. Even the local authorities in Surry who've been conducting their own probe were stunned by the federal action. Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter said, "I'm amazed, to be quite honest."

The government's action raises questions. Here are some answers . . .

Federal investigators have been scouring Michael Vick's property in rural Virginia looking for evidence of dogfighting. What's going on? And how did the U.S. government become involved?

Using powerful laws that were enacted only a month ago (a bill known as HR 137), agents of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are determining whether Vick and others should be prosecuted for promoting and sponsoring dogfights. The new federal law makes it a felony to organize a dogfight. A subdivision of the Agriculture Department is pursuing similar cases elsewhere with considerable support from humane societies and local police departments. The Vick investigation is one of many across the U.S.

Is this something Vick should worry about?

Definitely. The local police and the county prosecutor were taking their time in their investigation of Vick and the 66 dogs seized on his property. Poindexter, the Commonwealth's Attorney, refused to execute a search warrant on Vick's property, and that's a rare event in the world of law enforcement. In fact, he actually let the warrant expire, creating the impression that things might be worked out in a friendly settlement with the local authorities. But the day after the county search warrant expired, the USDA agents were on the scene armed with their own search warrant. So instead of reluctant local cops, Vick appears now to be up against the might of the federal government.

What can the federal government do to Vick?

The USDA and other federal agencies will now be sifting through all aspects of his life. The dogfighting investigation easily could grow into examinations of his income, taxes and other holdings. If they find sufficient evidence, the federal agencies will submit it to the U.S. Department of Justice and then, possibly, to a grand jury for indictment.

Are they doing this just because Vick is a famous quarterback?

No. The USDA and the humane societies are engaged in a major effort to end animal fighting in the U.S. They are interested in people who promote and sponsor dogfights. It might matter to some of the animal-rights lobbyists who can use Vick's celebrity to promote their causes; but legally, Vick's football success is inconsequential. In Dayton, Ohio, for example, the USDA and other federal and state agencies investigated a dogfighting operation for 14 months, seized 64 dogs, and indicted nine people. Last week, state authorities in Ohio charged another 38 who were involved in the same scheme. All 38 are charged with state felonies. Although that investigation began with a dogfighting conspiracy, it quickly led to drug, gun and gambling charges as well. The charges even include bartered purchases of food stamp machines. The payments for the food stamp machines, which produce valuable food stamps for use as cash in retail stores, included a stolen Corvette and wholesale quantities of cocaine.

Is dogfighting illegal everywhere?

Yes. It's a felony in 48 states and a misdemeanor in Wyoming and Idaho. But the new federal law trumps state laws. If you're involved in dogfighting, you now face the prospect of a federal prosecution with agents of the USDA, FBI and IRS coming after you.

Can people be sent to jail for dogfighting?

Yes. As the result of the new federal laws, jail is a probability upon conviction. Until last month, a federal dogfighting charge was a misdemeanor and likely would result in probation and a fine. Now, it's a felony that comes with a sentence of as many as five years in jail.

What will happen to Vick's house and the black buildings in the backyard where, investigators suspect, dogfighting was carried out?

Now that the federal government is involved, there is a real possibility that the house and the land will be forfeited to the government. If charges are filed against Vick or anyone else, the government will demand that the property be taken from Vick. Vick is in the process of selling the real estate to an unknown buyer, but the sale might not happen if federal charges are filed. In the Ohio case, the federal prosecutors are asking for similar forfeitures.

Vick apparently wasn't living in the house. What will happen to the people who were?

Their situation is just as bad as the dilemma facing Vick. If investigators determine that dogfighting, in fact, was taking place there and Vick is able to convince authorities that he was not involved, then the focus of the probe will turn to those who were training and fighting the dogs found on the property. They will be subject to the same tougher laws that Vick now faces.

If he was involved but not actually in attendance at the dogfights, though, Vick could still be charged under the law's prohibition of sponsorship or promotion of dogfighting.

ESPN.com's Lester Munson is a Chicago lawyer and journalist who has been reporting on investigative and legal issues in the sports industry for 18 years.

Bring the dirt down; it's obvious he's involved, but unlikely anything gets proven

[oregonpackfan]

ha! Right on...Woody posts books, not posts.

Great Avatar, GB

GBRulz,

Your new avatar is one goofy snapshot of Brett! As St. Vincent would say, "What the hell is going on out there!"