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Michael Vick's Property Raided again


DMD
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I just wish they would do something or drop it.

 

Official declines comment on why authorities are on property

 

SURRY, Va. -- A dozen cars and a U-Haul truck were parked Friday on property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in what appeared to be a second federal raid of the site that has been the focus of a dogfighting probe.

 

 

A U.S. Department of Agriculture agent stationed at the gate had no comment, ESPN's Kelly Naqi reported.

 

Television station WVEC in Hampton Roads, Va., is reporting that an investigator told it that forensics crews are searching only for dog carcasses. It also reported that the Surry County Sheriff's Office is involved in the search.

 

The house is in the process of being sold by Vick, according to Naqi.

 

The USDA is the federal agency with oversight over treatment of domestic animals and investigates dog fighting allegations.

 

On June 7, federal law enforcement officials descended on a home owned by Vick armed with a search warrant that suggests they're taking over an investigation into the Falcons quarterback's possible involvement in dogfighting.

 

More than a dozen vehicles went to the home early that day and investigators searched inside before turning their attention to the area where officials found dozens of dogs in late April and evidence that suggested the home was involved in a dogfighting operation.

 

Surry County officials had secured a search warrant in late May based on an informant's information to look for as many as 30 dog carcasses buried on the property. The warrant never was executed because Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter said he had issues with the way it was worded.

 

The results of that search have remained sealed.

 

At the time, Poindexter expressed surprise at why the federal government was involved.

 

"What is foreign to me is the federal government getting into a dogfighting case," Poindexter said. "I know it's been done, but what's driving this? Is it this boy's celebrity? Would they have done this if it wasn't Michael Vick?"

 

A day later, Poindexter said: "They launched a separate, independent federal investigation," Poindexter said of the government, which has had a representative involved in the local probe all along.

 

"We are just pursuing parallel investigations."

 

During an April 25 drug raid on the home Vick owns in the county, authorities seized 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment that suggested someone at the property was involved in a dogfighting operation.

 

A search warrant affidavit said some of the dogs were in individual kennels and about 30 were tethered with "heavy logging-type chains" buried in the ground. The chains allowed the dogs to get close to each other, but not to have contact, one of myriad findings on the property that suggested a dogfighting operation.

 

Others included a rape stand, used to hold non-receptive dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified to be used by dogs; a "pry bar" used to open the clamped-down mouths of dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting the authorities believe was used in dog fights. Carpeting gives dogs traction in a plywood fighting pit.

 

Vick has claimed he rarely visits the home and was unaware it could be involved in a criminal enterprise. He also has blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity. Vick's cousin, Davon Boddie, was living at the home at the time of the raids.

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I just wish they would do something or drop it.

It sure seems like they're having some trouble with the case.

 

They probably are just trying to carefully gather all the evidence they possibly can because of likely issues with their witnesses/informants... credibility or otherwise.

 

While they might be able to get an indictment on physical evidence alone, placing Vick there with only a copy of the land title probably wouldn't be enough for a conviction... the prosecutors know this and so probably do Vick's representation.

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Here's what I think will happen:

 

Vick will be charged, but not for a while longer yet (probably close to the start of the regular season).

Vick's lawyers will get the trial pushed back until after the regular season is over with.

In order to protect the Falcon's season, the Commissioner will not suspend Vick over this at all this season.

Every week, every game, the crowds will torment Vick mercilessly with barks, etc. It will also divide the lockerroom.

Somewhere around March of 2008, Vick will plea-bargain down from a Felony to a Misdemeanor charge.

Vick will serve no jail time whatsoever, but will pay a large fine and do some lame community service.

There will be a little uproar over this at that time, but most of us will just be happy to see it resolved and over with.

Vick will also receive something like a 6 game suspension for all of this next year (probably not much more because it will end up being a misdemeanor that he agrees to be guilty of, instead of a felony).

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Here's what I think will happen:

 

Vick will be charged, but not for a while longer yet (probably close to the start of the regular season).

Vick's lawyers will get the trial pushed back until after the regular season is over with.

In order to protect the Falcon's season, the Commissioner will not suspend Vick over this at all this season.

Every week, every game, the crowds will torment Vick mercilessly with barks, etc. It will also divide the lockerroom.

Somewhere around March of 2008, Vick will plea-bargain down from a Felony to a Misdemeanor charge.

Vick will serve no jail time whatsoever, but will pay a large fine and do some lame community service.

There will be a little uproar over this at that time, but most of us will just be happy to see it resolved and over with.

Vick will also receive something like a 6 game suspension for all of this next year (probably not much more because it will end up being a misdemeanor that he agrees to be guilty of, instead of a felony).

 

SB, the Commish is handing our suspensions like Halloween candy...he's simply gonna let this one go "to protect the Falcons' season?" I can't see it.

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Here's what I think will happen:

 

Vick will be charged, but not for a while longer yet (probably close to the start of the regular season).

Vick's lawyers will get the trial pushed back until after the regular season is over with.

In order to protect the Falcon's season, the Commissioner will not suspend Vick over this at all this season.

Every week, every game, the crowds will torment Vick mercilessly with barks, etc. It will also divide the lockerroom.

Somewhere around March of 2008, Vick will plea-bargain down from a Felony to a Misdemeanor charge.

Vick will serve no jail time whatsoever, but will pay a large fine and do some lame community service.

There will be a little uproar over this at that time, but most of us will just be happy to see it resolved and over with.

Vick will also receive something like a 6 game suspension for all of this next year (probably not much more because it will end up being a misdemeanor that he agrees to be guilty of, instead of a felony).

 

I probably agree with all of this except for the six game suspension. Vick is the franchise in ATL and I get he misses no games.

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I probably agree with all of this except for the six game suspension. Vick is the franchise in ATL and I get he misses no games.

 

Have you missed the iron hammer that Goddell is dropping on players? That he's the franchise (at least for one more year) in ATL would indicate by Goddell's previous behavior that he would be at least as severe as on Vick as he is on idiots like Ms. Pacman & Henry. There's no way he's going to allow anyone to plead special treatment - there ain't gonna be no "Jordan rules" in the NFL discipline, I'd warrant.

Edited by Bronco Billy
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Here's what I think will happen:

 

Vick will be charged, but not for a while longer yet (probably close to the start of the regular season).

Vick's lawyers will get the trial pushed back until after the regular season is over with.

In order to protect the Falcon's season, the Commissioner will not suspend Vick over this at all this season.

Every week, every game, the crowds will torment Vick mercilessly with barks, etc. It will also divide the lockerroom.

Somewhere around March of 2008, Vick will plea-bargain down from a Felony to a Misdemeanor charge.

Vick will serve no jail time whatsoever, but will pay a large fine and do some lame community service.

There will be a little uproar over this at that time, but most of us will just be happy to see it resolved and over with.

Vick will also receive something like a 6 game suspension for all of this next year (probably not much more because it will end up being a misdemeanor that he agrees to be guilty of, instead of a felony).

 

 

I believe he might be on point with this.

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If they had nothing they would have let this go. Are they just trying to get a high profile indictment or do they have more credible evidence?

 

Nothing so far. He must be guilty because I hate him. :D

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"Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents."

 

Very sickening...it idoes increasing look as though Vick himself is going to walk from this however. The Feds have not shown that they are implicating him in it.

Edited by Crazysight
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The case moves forward but does not name Vick - I still contend he won't get any charges from this or lose any NFL time because of it.

 

 

Feds detail alleged dogfighting operation at Vick property

 

SURRY, Va. (AP) - There is no longer any doubt about what federal authorities contend took place on the property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick that is at the center of a dogfighting investigation.

 

Investigators said almost nothing to reporters who gathered at the property while agents conducted a second search on Friday, but documents filed in Richmond and obtained by The Associated Press detailed aspects of the case for the first time. Vick is not named in the documents.

The property was used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved" in a dogfighting operation, according to the court papers.

 

The documents contend prize money from the dogfighting climbed into the thousands of dollars, people came from as far away as Texas and sheepish pit bulls were killed.

 

As federal agents used a backhoe to dig in an area about 10 feet wide by 20 feet long behind the massive two-story home, then left at about 4:30 p.m., the documents shed some light on their investigation.

 

They allege that dogfights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. For the events, participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and other states.

 

Fifty-four pit bulls were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.

 

The documents said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours.

 

Before fights, the participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance.

 

Sometimes, dogs weren't fed to "make it more hungry for the other dog."

 

Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents. The property has an aboveground swimming pool, and investigators were seen looking into its murky water Friday.

 

During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether the dogs would be good fighters, the documents alleged.

 

Members of "Bad Newz Kennels" also sponsored and exhibited fights in other parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and other states, according to the filings.

 

On Vick's Web site, he lists his birthplace as Newport News, "a.k.a. BadNews."

 

Friday, federal agents used shovels and heavy equipment to search the Vick property, where an informant told authorities as many as 30 dogs could be buried.

 

A backhoe-front loader was brought in and used to excavate a cleared area on the property. The material found to be of interest was transferred into numerous large, ice-filled coolers and loaded into a rental truck, which left the property.

 

An Associated Press reporter and photographer viewing the investigation from a helicopter could not clearly identify the evidence being collected.

 

Investigators were digging in an area about 50 yards behind a large white house. About 15 people could be seen on the property, which includes several kennels surrounded by pens made of metal fencing, other kennels and outbuildings.

 

Located in southeast Virginia, the expansive property has a metal gate at the entrance and a white plastic fence around the perimeter. The fence and a large two-story building painted black behind the home obscured the work of investigators.

 

More than 15 vehicles were on the property, including the rental truck and at least one Virginia State Police evidence collection truck.

 

Corinne Geller, a spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, said state authorities were working with federal investigators in an "assistance capacity."

 

Vick has said he rarely visited the property. No charges have been filed.

 

During an April 25 raid at the property, about half the dogs were tethered to car axles with heavy chains that allowed them to get close to each other, but not to have contact, an arrangement typical for fighting dogs, according to an affidavit.

 

Later, Surry County officials secured a search warrant based on an informant's information about dogs being buried on the property, but never acted on it because prosecutor Gerald G. Poindexter said he had concerns with the wording of the document.

 

On June 7, the day that warrant expired, federal officials executed their own with the help of state police investigators.

 

Poindexter publicly questioned the federal government's interest in a dogfighting case. He suggested Vick's celebrity was the draw and raised race as a possible motivation. Poindexter and Vick are black, as is Surry County Sheriff Harold Brown.

 

Poindexter, on vacation in Louisiana, said by telephone he was unaware of Friday's search and was still pursuing what he called a parallel investigation. He said he assumed Surry County and federal officials eventually will share their evidence.

 

Vick initially said he had no idea the property might have been used in a criminal enterprise and blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity. He also put the house up for sale and reportedly sold it quickly, although there is no record that the sale has closed. Vick has since declined to talk about the investigation.

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The case moves forward but does not name Vick - I still contend he won't get any charges from this or lose any NFL time because of it.

 

That indictments have been filed shows how quickly the Feds plan on moving.

 

This is a time honoring M.O. for them. They bag the little fish & hold the sword of Federal penalties over their heads, then let th little fish roll over on the big fish if they don't have any more than circumstantial evidence on the major players. If the rumors are true and Vick was the person with the breeding license, was bankrolling the operation, and was wagering huge sums of money on fights, you can bet that he's got a crosshairs right on him and he's exactly the guy the Feds are aiming for. They're going to shake some trees now that indictments have been filed and see what falls.

 

It worked against the KKK and it worked against the Mafia. You think it won't work some some jerk water low life a-holes who love dog fighting?

Edited by Bronco Billy
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Goodell will be interesting to watch on this one, as he is very, very serious about the "league image", and having fans berate Vick at every game..never letting it die down. I could see a suspension handed down because of this upcoming fiasco and the tension it will create......we shall see.

Edited by PantherDave
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"Poindexter publicly questioned the federal government's interest in a dogfighting case. He suggested Vick's celebrity was the draw and raised race as a possible motivation.

Poindexter and Vick are black, as is Sheriff Harold Brown."

 

from an AP story

I suspected it was race all along. :D

 

That Poindexter guy is tossing out crap left and right to cover his ass. He was the one who was supposed to be investigating this, but the feds came in after he pretty much tried to sweep it under the carpet. He's in trouble.

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That Poindexter guy is tossing out crap left and right to cover his ass. He was the one who was supposed to be investigating this, but the feds came in after he pretty much tried to sweep it under the carpet. He's in trouble.

 

+1

 

He's been trying to sandbag this thing from the start. Exactly how ethical is he that he's trying to run down the Feds with public charges of celebrity-hunting and racsim?

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