Georgia Dogfighting Law :

[Kramer]

There is only one count, for now -- conspiracy.
In order to be guilty of conspiracy, the government doesn't have to prove that the defendants committed the underlying illegal acts, but only that they intended to do so, and that they accomplished one or more overt acts in order to reach their goals.

Under Title 18, Section 371 of the U.S. Code, the penalty for conspiracy is up to five years in prison. If, however, the underlying crime is a misdemeanor, the punishment for conspiracy may not exceed the maximum sentence for the misdemeanor offense.

The indictment alleges at paragraph 1 that Peace (a/k/a "P-Funk"), Phillips (a/k/a "Q"), Taylor (a/k/a "T"), and Vick (a/k/a "Ookie" -- we're not kidding) conspired to: (1) travel in interstate commerce and use the mail or any facility in interstate commerce to promote, manage, etc. a business enterprise involving gambling; (2) knowingly sponsor an animal moved in interstate commerce in an animal fighting venture; (3) knowingly transport a dog for the purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture.

The allegation regarding the use of interstate commerce to promote a business enterprise involving gambling is key. Under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, Section 1952, which is titled "Interstate or foreign trade or travel in aid of racketeering enterprises," the maximum penalty is 20 years behind bars. At the time the events transpired, dog fighting was only a misdemeanor.
Absent the gambling/racketeering angle, then, Vick would not be facing up to five years, but only the misdemeanor sentence for dog fighting.

It shall be a Class C felony for any person:
(b) A person convicted of the offense of dogfighting shall be punished by a mandatory fine of $5,000.00

or by a mandatory fine of $5,000.00 and imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years.

Thought I'd bring Mallers up to date here :

Could be as little as $ 5,000 fine ,

[cman]

Not to state the obvious but ....he is not charged with a state crime....He is lucky RICO has not been added yet...the fact he started this criminal enterprise to do nothing but committ crimes across 5 state lines is mafia like in itself

wde

[Kramer]

Its obv cman :

Here's why he's considering dealing :
The person convicted shall be imprisonned by not less than one year
no more than five .
He has 3 people testifying against him.

The gov't doesn't have to PROVE
illegal acts , only
INTENT .

If he goes to tiral and gets convicted ,
min 1 year ...

[cman]

Originally Posted by Kramer

Its obv cman :

Here's why he's considering dealing :
The person convicted shall be imprisonned by not less than one year
no more than five .
He has 3 people testifying against him.

The gov't doesn't have to PROVE
illegal acts , only
INTENT .

If he goes to tiral and gets convicted ,
min 1 year ...

exactly...but it wont be a misdeamnor....because the Federal Government does not recognize misdeamnors...it will still be a felony and carry probation that will exceed the 9-12 months he will get plus good behavior

wde

[Kramer]

If you were Goodell and he pleads guilty how long would you suspend him?

He told Goodell there wasn't and dogfighting at his property,
so in effect he lied to him, the head honcho

this would be a violation of NFL policy

I'd say 1 year myself

[Trossi3389]

Hope they never let the fawker back in. all the skills and everything he had down the toilet.

[cman]

Originally Posted by Kramer

If you were Goodell and he pleads guilty how long would you suspend him?

He told Goodell there wasn't and dogfighting at his property,
so in effect he lied to him, the head honcho

this would be a violation of NFL policy

I'd say 1 year myself

1 year is the max by the NFL ( I think)..minus any direct crimes against the NFL...

however, the gambling could be an avenue that he might could extend based upon Michaels allocution when he pleads guilty...I am not sure that the individual states are done with him...Ga is a misdemeanor but I think in Va it is a felony...remember this occured and in at least 3 different states according to the indictment...even it involved kennels from 5 different states

wde

[The Judge]

Originally Posted by cman

1 year is the max by the NFL ( I think)..minus any direct crimes against the NFL...

Pretty sure that the NFL bylaws do not establish a "max" penalty for players found guilty of a federal crime.

I could be wrong but would be shocked if the union was that stong.

[cman]

Originally Posted by The Judge

Pretty sure that the NFL bylaws do not establish a "max" penalty for players found guilty of a federal crime.

I could be wrong but would be shocked if the union was that stong.

hope your right bro...I still think the best way to ban him is through the illegal gaming of betting....something tells me this is not his first handicapping venture

wde