Vick's co-defendants to enter new plea agreements

[StanleySpadowski]

Vick either cops a plea and does 5 years or gets slammed with RICO and faces the possibility of 20+ years.

Vick has to understand that his NFL career is over, the endorsments are gone, and the Falcons are about to be owed more than $25 million from his signing bonus. His only hope is to come out of this with a little bit of his nest egg.

 

[Hostile]

Vick either cops a plea and does 5 years or gets slammed with RICO and faces the possibility of 20+ years.

Vick has to understand that his NFL career is over, the endorsments are gone, and the Falcons are about to be owed more than $25 million from his signing bonus. His only hope is to come out of this with a little bit of his nest egg.

I said this a month ago. I I were in his shoes I would get as much as I could to liquid money and get it in an interest bearing account so that I was not dead broke for the rest of my life.

 

[03EBZ06]

If he takes a deal, I could see him dropping that substantially, considering he doesn't have much of a criminal history.... probably somewhere around 2-3 years. Probation would still be an option, from what I've read. I don't know a whole lot about federal sentencing guidelines, but I could see a guy like Vick without a criminal history possibly getting probation if he were to take a deal. It all depends on how zealous the prosecutors are.

But if you can get a deal for probation, and you can live up to your end of the terms, you take it. If he goes to trial and loses, he's looking at around 4 years (he has to serve about 85% of the prison sentence).

If all three co-defendents pleads, then prosecutors don't HAVE to make a deal with Vick and has him by the balls. I think only reason to deal with Vick, at this point is to save money (correct me if I'm wrong) because with those turncoats, their case is even stronger.

So, if prosecutors make a deal, they don't have to drastically drop the prison time because of Vick is looking at more than 5 years currently, with added charges, speculation is 20 years.

Because of prosecution's position, I can't see Vick only receiving probation, imo. I think he'll get ~3 years, at minimum 2 years prison time.

 

[Doomsday101]

Evidently the evidence must be pretty strong for these guys to cop a plea

 

[Vintage]

Peplaw, what's the Travel Act portion of the indictment?

Basically, what does it mean?

 

[03EBZ06]

Evidently the evidence must be pretty strong for these guys to cop a plea

That and superceding indictment, which carries much stiffer sentencing.

 

[cobra]

Best I can tell from quickly researching the issue, the maximum range of punishment he faces is five years. He's looking at a max of 5 on the Travel Act portion of the conspiracy charge, and one year on the dog fighting conspiracy charge. The presumption is that those would run concurrently even if the maximum is levied against him.

No. He's looking at much more than that because of the superseding indictment that will be filed against him. As I explained when this first story broke, Vick will be tagged with RICO violations. They had him on the underlying crimes, but they needed information about the organization--information that the cooperative witnesses can now provide. This is significant for two reasons: (1) it puts Vick's assets at jeopardy; and (2) it can be up 20 years per violation/activity of the organization in violation of the Act (and there are probably dozens). That is, every time he or anyone in the organization he ran did anything, its a violation that can be added. So they'll nail him on (i) breaking the state law; (ii) gambling on an act that is illegal in a state; (iii) racketeering; (iv) violation of the Travel Act; (v) some assorted federal "soft transfer" crimes like mail fraud, wire act; and (vi) RICO violations. Also, don't rule out potential income tax evasion issues.

If Vick goes to trial, he would assuredly lose. And if he does, I think he would be facing around 5 years and massive fines--and that is after getting lax sentencing.

If he pleas, I don't think the federal prosecutor would let him go with anything less than 1 year in the federal pen (and probably 2). There is no incentive to letting him go on probation or on a light sentence. These prosecutors have jobs to do, and like it or not, part of that job is the determent that comes from making a statement when Vick serves time for dog fighting.

 

[DallasEast]

Michael Vick's personal theme song right about now.

 

[deadrody]

If he pleads guilty his NFL career is over. BUT if he tries to fight it and loses he is looking at some serious FEDERAL PRISON time. The SMART thing to do is plead guilty, act and look contrite, do his year or so, and enjoy the rest of his life with his money which he will still mostly have. But then again if he was SMART he would not be in this mess to begin with.

Really. This still amazes me. Jamal Lewis serves 4 months on drug charges and gets a similar suspension. Vick potentially serves a year and he gets a lifetime ban ????

 

[Doomsday101]

Really. This still amazes me. Jamal Lewis serves 4 months on drug charges and gets a similar suspension. Vick potentially serves a year and he gets a lifetime ban ????

If Vick goes down chances are it will be for longer than a 1 year prison sentence. I think the Feds will be looking for the max on this and with 3 co-defendants now turning on Vick I think the Feds will get it. Vick has got much bigger problems than Goodell and what the NFL may do.

 

[HighTechDave]

Really. This still amazes me. Jamal Lewis serves 4 months on drug charges and gets a similar suspension. Vick potentially serves a year and he gets a lifetime ban ????

Keyword,,, "Federal".

this makes a BIG difference

 

[03EBZ06]

Really. This still amazes me. Jamal Lewis serves 4 months on drug charges and gets a similar suspension. Vick potentially serves a year and he gets a lifetime ban ????

Different commissioner and different guidelines.

 

[Stash]

Really. This still amazes me. Jamal Lewis serves 4 months on drug charges and gets a similar suspension. Vick potentially serves a year and he gets a lifetime ban ????

One key difference is that Lewis got away with it under Tagliabue, a guy who was more interested in revenues than cleaning up the league while Goodell clearly wants players to be held accountable.

I don't see Goodell imposing a 'lifetime ban'. I see the league's 32 owners doing that on their own.

 

[Vintage]

One key difference is that Lewis got away with it under Tagliabue, a guy who was more interested in revenues than cleaning up the league while Goodell clearly wants players to be held accountable.

I don't see Goodell imposing a 'lifetime ban'. I see the league's 32 owners doing that on their own.

I agree with this. I doubt Goodell comes down with a lifetime ban.

If anything, it will be on the owners, if they wish to do something (like not signing him).

But with Vicks immense athleticism, any 'ban' would be short lived (if he doesn't serve jail time)....someone will take the chance and give him a contract and a 2nd chance.

 

[Stash]

I agree with this. I doubt Goodell comes down with a lifetime ban.

If anything, it will be on the owners, if they wish to do something (like not signing him).

But with Vicks immense athleticism, any 'ban' would be short lived (if he doesn't serve jail time)....someone will take the chance and give him a contract and a 2nd chance.

Personally, I can't see any owner or coach holding a press conference announcing the signing of Vick.

I can't see how you could 'sell it' to your fanbase - even if your team stinks.

Vick has been entertaining, but never a great quarterback. I can't see how signing him would be worth the negative P.R. that a team would inevitably get.

 

[DLCassidy]

If the Browns give up on Brady Quinn in a few years, they could sign Vick. It's a natural fit, they already have the Dog Pound.

 

[zeromaster]

Vick's Peeps are not "Keeping it Real". I thought the Rule was "no snitching".

But what do I know, I'm just a "Crakka" white boy

Icky Twerp rulz!!!

 

[HighTechDave]

Icky Twerp rulz!!!

you are a wise one, and the WINNER!!!

I was wondering if anyone here was of the right age to remember him

 

[5Stars]

Vick belongs to the Feds!

 

[Doomsday101]

Vick belongs to the Feds!

I agree. I don't think he has to worry about what Goodell may do, I think the Feds will make this a moot point. Unless the Falcons home games are moved to the federal pen.