Andrea Rosebrock 
There’s a definite possibly of it! Yesterday it was announced that his two remaining co-defendants, Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach and Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta are schedule to enter plea agreements. Quanis Phillips of Atlanta is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. and Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach is scheduled for Thursday morning at 9 a.m to enter their plea agreements for two felony crimes, conspiracy to commit an unlawful act and sponsoring an animal in an unlawful animal fighting venture. (UPDATE – Pernell Peace’s hearing has been rescheduled for Friday, 15 minutes after Quanis Phillips)
And we also know that Michael Vick has been offered a plea agreement and that he has only until Friday to make a decision before he is hit with other charges. Now we hear that his attorneys have entered into negotiations with federal prosecutors although his attorney, Collin Spencer has declined to comment.
He did indicate that a meeting was scheduled with Vick this morning and that an announcement may be forthcoming.
According to federal sentencing guidelines, Vick will most likely be facing prison time if the announcement comes that he agrees to a plea.
Vick’s motivation to enter a guilty plea is likely fueled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office announcement last month that it will seek a new “superseding” indictment against Vick by the end of August. With the cooperation of Vick’s three co-defendants, there will likely be new, and more specific, allegations against Vick. The federal grand jury in Richmond is expected to hand up that indictment sometime early next week. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
According to news sources, Vick’s lawyers are advising him to plead guilty to the charges now to avoid additional more serious charges against him being filed. It seems they are holding out for a deal which would offer Vick a year or less in prison and saves his NFL career but so far the feds haven’t been quite so lenient.
Early next week a federal grand jury in Richmond, Va., will begin hearing new allegations against Vick. So could things get worse for Michael Vick if he doesn’t take the plea?
Yes, it could get worse in a hurry. The federal prosecutors in Richmond are preparing a new set of charges, known in legal terms as a superseding indictment. The new charges could come any day. The new charges might include a racketeering allegation under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (known as RICO). RICO originally was designed as a weapon against organized-crime hoodlums but has been used frequently in other prosecutions. A charge under RICO would make Vick’s situation significantly worse. It would make the government’s case against him easier to prove, and it would increase the prison sentence Vick would face if convicted.
At this point the only thing that can really save Vick is an outright acquittal and with seven eyewitnesses prepared to testify against him, that likelihood of that is looking less and less.
Oh, and just as an aside, Michael Vick has also been hit with a $63 billion dollar lawsuit filed by a South Carolina inmate who alleges the Atlanta Falcons star stole his pit bulls and sold them on eBay to buy “missiles from Iran.” To me this is just too far fetched to elaborate on!
So as the saying goes – Stay tuned for further developments!
For more background and information as well as all up to date related posts, the full indictment and Tony Taylor’s “Statement of Facts,” please see – Michael Vick and Dogfighting
[...] Is Michael Vick Negotiating a Plea? [...]
Isn’t it sad statement that our government considers racketeering to be deserving of stricter punishment than torturing, mutilating & murdering innocent animals.
You definitely said it there!! Like far too many people, it seems the judicial systems places far too little value on the life of an animal.
I’m glad things might get worse for him, he deserves that and much more. He is a jerk who probably doesn’t even regret what he did to those dogs. I bet he only regrets the fact that he got caught. If he were remorseful, he would do something to help animals who have been victims of this awful cruelty! Regardless of whether or not he is apologetic, I still hope this ruins his NFL career for good, and I hope he does time in prison. It wouldn’t bother me at all if he got mistreated by another inmate.
Jeannie,
From what I have been reading it sounds like his biggest concerns are as little jail time as possible and keeping his NFL career, that’s what his lawyers are trying to negotiate. If they can get that it looks like a plea deal is imminent. So he’ll plead guilty, which he no doubt is, if he can keep the money rolling in after he gets out of prison.
He doesn’t give a damn about what he did!! He doesn’t give a damn about the abuse, neglect and killing that went on, whether he actually participated or not. And whether or not he did actually participate, there is no doubt he knew exactly what was happening which makes him just as guilty because he condoned it!
He should be booted out of the NFL, fined by them, fined by the fed and thrown in jail for a good long time!
I actually hope he doesn’t plea out and the feds rack up RICO charges against him then he can take his chances with a jury of dog lovers! I think the starting jail term for racketeering is around 20 years!