U S Attorneys' Office Eastern District of Virginia Press Release http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae/Pressreleases/07-JulyPDFArchive/07/20...

Jim Rybicki

Public Information Officer

Phone (703) 842-4050 Fax: (703) 549-5202

of Atlanta, Georgia; Tony Taylor, age 34, of Hampton, Virginia; and Michael Vick, age 27, of

Atlanta, Georgia, were indicted today by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to travel in interstate

commerce in aid of unlawful activities (“Travel Act”), and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting

venture, in violation of federal law. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern

District of Virginia, and Brian L. Haaser, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, made the announcement.

If convicted on the Travel Act portion of the conspiracy charge, each defendant faces a statutory

maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and full restitution. If convicted on the animal

fighting venture portion of the conspiracy charge, each defendant faces one year in prison, a

$100,000 fine, or both. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation seeking recovery of any

property constituting, or derived from, proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of these

offenses.

According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in an ongoing animal fighting venture

based out of a property located in Smithfield, Virginia, from early 2001 through on or about April

25, 2007. The property was purchased by Vick in June 2001. Since that time, the named defendants

formed a dog fighting enterprise known as “Bad Newz Kennels” and used the property for housing

and training pit bulls used in dog fights. From at least 2002, the defendants and others sponsored dog

fights at the property, where participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina,

Maryland, New York, Texas, Alabama, and other states to participate. Generally, only those

accompanying the opposing kennels and “Bad Newz Kennels’” associates attended the fights. For a

particular dog fight, the participants would establish a purse for the winning side, ranging from the

hundreds to thousands of dollars. Participants and spectators would also place side-bets on the fight.

The dog fight would last until the death or surrender of the losing dog. At the end of the fight, the

losing dog was sometimes put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot, electrocution, or another

method.

The indictment also alleges that the defendants participated in dog fights at locations other than the

property in Smithfield. For these events, various members of “Bad Newz Kennels” would travel to

other parts of Virginia and across state lines to participate in dog fights at other venues. The

indictment alleges that the defendants and the “Bad Newz Kennels” dogs participated in dog fights

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in North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, and elsewhere in Virginia.

The indictment also includes allegations about the defendants “testing” the pit bulls in their

inventory, to determine if particular dogs were good fighters. Sometimes, the dogs deemed not to be

good fighters were be put to death. In the summer of 2002, at various times, Peace, Phillips, Taylor,

and Vick performed “testing” sessions at the property in Smithfield. Following some of these

sessions, the dogs that did not perform well were put to death by Peace, Phillips, or Taylor. Further,

in April 2007, an additional “testing” session was performed by Peace, Phillips, and Vick. Following

that session, the indictment alleges that approximately eight dogs were put to death by hanging,

drowning, and/or slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.

The investigation has been a cooperative effort involving, among other agencies, the United States

Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; Virginia State Police; and the Surry County

Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Gill and Brian Whisler are prosecuting

the case on behalf of the United States. The federal investigation into the defendants’ criminal

conduct is continuing.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be

innocent until and unless proven guilty.