Black Gangs & Illegal Gambling in NFL

[PitBull]

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A federal judge made clear his disdain for
animal cruelty when he sentenced two of Michael Vick's dogfighting
cohorts to 18 months and 21 months in prison Friday.

"You may have thought this was sporting, but it was very callous and
cruel," Judge Henry Hudson told Quanis Phillips of Atlanta, who received
the longer sentence.

The prison terms for Phillips and Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach are a
little longer than prosecutors recommended, but less than the five-year
maximum Hudson could have imposed.

Vick, the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback, also faces up to five
years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 10 for his role in a dogfighting
conspiracy that operated on his 15-acre property in southeastern Virginia
from 2001 until last summer.

But Hudson, who owns a bichon frise dog, said he believed slightly
tougher sentences were appropriate. Peace's sentence is at the top of the
guideline range, Phillips' in the middle.

And Benjamin said Vick still could get a sentence above the negotiated
range in his case -- a year to 18 months -- if Hudson concludes 27-
year-old Vick is more culpable than the others because he admitting
bankrolling the operation and providing gambling money.


Hey, does anybody except me find the Michael Vick saga a bit more
disturbing than being an animal cruelty case? Was the genreal tone in the
media one of being shocked that an NFL player was involved in an
ILLEGAL GAMBLING RING, or one of misdirection and outrage at
animal cruelty? Is this some kind of coincidence or done to hide the
truth?

Maybe the reason the college, NFL, and NBA recruit inner city blacks is
because they are already involved in illegal activity and would have no
trouble throwing games for the great profit of their employers. How
much money is bet on college and pro sports? How many point shaving
white kids from the suburbs would they get?

Its a perfect scheme. You've got street criminals desperate for a shot at
big money and fame, a percentage of which would have no problem
engaging in this kind of activity. There's big money at stake. And you've
got a willing press who is eager to look past any criminal activity on the
part of blacks to portray them as constant victims.

Whaddya think, y'all? How about this angle on the Caste System?

 

[Bart]

Don posted about this subject in the not too distant past. The possibility of gang bangers in uniform betting on and manipulating games is something no one wants to discuss in the mainstream press. Only on this site has it been addressed.

 

[PitBull]

I didn't know about the previous thread. But you know what Bart--if its
never addressed in the mainstream press, its probably true, and rampant at
that.

 

[white is right]

I remember a few years back there was a Falcon who was busted for running an illegal card game. Basically all the greater ATL criminals would gather at his game and play. I think point shaving is much more of a problem in college because of the poverty issue. From what I have read card games are big vice for some players as their debts can get in the 6 figure range.

 

[Animalmuther0]

"But Hudson, who owns a bichon frise dog, said he believed slightly tougher sentences were appropriate."

I'm thinkin' that the good judge needs his man-card pulled for owning a bichon frise.

 

[White Shogun]

"But Hudson, who owns a bichon frise dog, said he believed slightly tougher sentences were appropriate."

I'm thinkin' that the good judge needs his man-card pulled for owning a bichon frise.

Just in case anyone is wondering why Animalmuther would say such a thing:

Bichon Frise

 

[Bart]

And Benjamin said Vick still could get a sentence above the negotiated
range in his case -- a year to 18 months -- if Hudson concludes 27-
year-old Vick is more culpable than the others because he admitting
bankrolling the operation and providing gambling money.


Hey, does anybody except me find the Michael Vick saga a bit more
disturbing than being an animal cruelty case? Was the genreal tone in the
media one of being shocked that an NFL player was involved in an
ILLEGAL GAMBLING RING, or one of misdirection and outrage at
animal cruelty? Is this some kind of coincidence or done to hide the
truth?

Don's postin the Atlanta team thread:


One thing I've yet to see mentioned in the MSM about this is how many other NFL players are involved. Given how brazenly Vick, an incredibly popular player among blackNFLers,financed and ran a large dogfighting operation, it's logical to believe that other NFL players, perhaps many others, bet on dog fights.


There was an article inone of the local papers here today about how this area (western Pa.) is a "hotbed" of underground dogfighting.It begs a logical question -- do any Steelers participate? There was a nationally circulated dogfighting publication based here that was bustedin 2004, andalso a sellerof dogfighting videos. Who knows how big dogfighting may actually be?


Since Vick is supposedly going to "fess up" to everything, the first thing I'd want to know is what other NFL players are involved. We already have quotes from several basically supporting dogfighting. Given the facts already known, who seriously believes Vick was alone among NFL players in participating in dogfighting?

 

[Lance Alworth]

"But Hudson, who owns a bichon frise dog, said he believed slightly tougher sentences were appropriate."

I'm thinkin' that the good judge needs his man-card pulled for owning a bichon frise.

I own a bichon frise. they rule!

 

[backrow]

"But Hudson, who owns a bichon frise dog, said he believed slightly tougher sentences were appropriate."

I'm thinkin' that the good judge needs his man-card pulled for owning a bichon frise.

Just in case anyone is wondering why Animalmuther would say such a thing:

Bichon Frise

now that's a DAWG!

 

[White Shogun]

I love the Internet. Start a serious discussion about illegal gambling bankrolled by a professional athlete only to see it turn into a discussion about toy dogs and whether real men should own them.

 

[backrow]

it's not even a discussion. it's a big fat no-no!

 

[reclaimsocal]

That picture is of a puppy, a full grown bichon frise is much more femme...

 

[Guest]

Lance:

Unless you plan on playing a villan in a James Bond movie, GET RID OF
THAT GODDANMMED BARKING GERBIL!

 

[white is right]

Blofeld had dubious hetrosexual qualities at best. Only Telly Savalas made Blofeld seem like he could have a harem of women.....

 

[PitBull]

Another twist to the strange case of Michael Vick....

It appears that Michael Vick was given two years of jail time for
dogfighting charges by the Federal Govt. There's only one problem with
that--there's no federal law against dogfighting!

Imagine that--the State of Virginia raids Michael Vick's property on
suspicion of drug possession by a friend of his, and then finds all kinds of
dogfighting paraphernalia and pitbulls(!) on his property. So the State of
Virginia hauls Michael Vick up on state dogfighting charges, which
actually exist.

Then, the investigation is taken onver by the US Dept. of Agriculture
(WTF)! Michael Vick's criminal case is taken over by the feds, and he and
his cohorts are convicted of dogfigting charges by the feds--even
though no such federal charges exist!

You would think that Michael Vick's lawyers would have figured out that
their client was being railroaded on false charges--but they didn't!
They even had Vick enter a guilty plea to violating non-existent federal
laws!

What the hell is going on here? What the hell is going on here?
<a href="http://www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson203.html" target="_blank">http://
www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson203.html</a>Edited by: PitBull

 

[White Shogun]

What happened here is Mr. Anderson failed to do his homework before comparing Vick's prosecution to the Nifong case:

The Federal statute which was the basis of Michael Vick's indictment is Title 7, § 2156, United States Code:

"It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in an animal fighting venture, if any animal in the venture was moved in interstate or foreign commerce...."For purposes of this section -(1) the term "animal fighting venture" means any event which involves a fight between at least two animals and is conducted for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment ..." "Interstate commerce", the basis for Federal jurisdiction, includes a telephone call or e-mail message."

They passed this law just this year, I believe:

Federal Anti-Dog Fighting Bill Signed
Signed on May 3rd, a new anti-dog fighting law makes it a felony to transport dogs and other animals across state lines for fighting purposes.

President Bush has signed into law federal legislation that makes it a felony to transport dogs, birds, and other animals across state lines for the purpose of fighting.

The new Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which the President signed May 3, took effect immediately. Violators could face three years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000.

The bill was approved by the House of Representatives by a 368-39 vote on March 26 and was unanimously passed by the Senate on April 10.

Taking animals across state lines for fighting purposes was previously a misdemeanor, but was upgraded partially due to lobbying by animal rights groups, who argued that misdemeanor charges did little to discourage the culprits.

Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 U.S. states and cockfighting is illegal everywhere in the U.S. except Louisiana.

Edited by: White Shogun

 

[PitBull]

There's only one problem with that, White Shogun. The dogfighting took
place before the federal law was passed--so the federal charges wouldn't
be applicable. The state charges would take precedence.

I would think that Vick's lawyers would have seen this.

Maybe this is why they took the federal charges:

"In another troubling development for Vick, the Commonwealth's Attorney
for Surry County, where Vick allegedly operated his dogfighting business,
said last week the evidence revealed in federal court so far has solidified
his plans to prosecute Vick on animal cruelty and dogfighting charges.
State charges could bring Vick up to 40 years in prison. Surry County
Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter said he likely would submit
his case to a grand jury scheduled to convene Sept. 25."

Time to keep an eye on this develpment and see what happens. If the
State drops the charges, the fix is probably in.Edited by: PitBull

 

[PitBull]

Uh oh, here's why:

"As he left the courthouse, defense attorney Billy Martin was asked why
Vick is fighting the state charges after pleading guilty in federal court.

"I can't tell you we're fighting them, I can't tell you we're taking a plea
deal," Martin said. "We're going to look at this matter and give him some
legal advice, and that has not been decided yet."

The two state charges -- beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other
dogs, and engaging in or promoting dogfighting -- also are punishable
by up to five years in prison each.

Vick's lawyers previously indicated they would fight the state charges
on the grounds he can't be convicted twice of the same crime.
Woodward declined to discuss that strategy before Tuesday's court
proceedings."

 

[White Shogun]

Some federal laws are actually enforceable retroactively, although I do not know specifically if the dog fighting statute is one of those. They are also guilty of a continuing criminal offense, i.e. a crime that is comprised of more than a single offense of misconduct over a period of time. Anyway, there were other federal laws against dog fighting prior to those I cited, but they carried lesser penalties.

They were also chargeable under RICO statutes, but pled to the dog fighting to avoid lengthier sentences.

The Wikipedia entry on Bad Newz Kennels actually has some good information on the subject, with copious citations.

 

[White Shogun]

In re:

Vick's lawyers previously indicated they would fight the state charges on the grounds he can't be convicted twice of the same crime.

I believe you can be convicted of different crimes though, even if the crime arose from the same incident. For example, you can be charged with drug possession at the state level, and charged with possession of a firearm during commission of a drug crime at the federal level, even though both violations arose from the singular arrest of the individual in possession of both a firearm and drugs.

Nor would the state charges against dog fighting preclude Vick, et al from being charged under RICO.

 

[PitBull]

Hey Shogun,

I think you can be convicted of both state and federal charges, so it will
be very interesting to see how this goes forward. You are right about
RICO.

Check this out--this is on Wikipedia and I saw it in various on-line
editions of newspapers:

On September 26, 1st Source Bank, based in South Bend, Indiana, claimed
in a federal lawsuit that it had suffered damages of at least $2 million as
Vick and Divine Seven LLC of Atlanta had refused to pay for at least
130 vehicles, including many Kia Spectras, Ford Tauruses, Chrysler
Pacificas, and a Dodge Charger. The cars were acquired by Divine
Seven to be used as rental cars. The "Specialty Financing Group" of 1st
Source provides financing for rental car fleets in many locations around
the country, according to the bank's web site. Vick signed the loan
agreement documents as Chief Financial Officer of Divine Seven.Art M.
Washington was listed as Chief Executive Officer. The website for
Georgia's Secretary of State lists "Divine Seven LLC" as a registered
corporation which was created on December 15, 2006 by Washington and
Vick. Washington is the designated registered agent. The company's
listed address, 2527 Camp Creek Parkway, in College Park, Georgia is
also listed as a Payless Car Rental franchise location. College Park is a
predominantly African American city in a south Atlanta suburban area
adjacent to the busy Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
According to a spokesman for the bank who was quoted in a news media
report of September 28, 1st Source has been able to repossess most of
the cars, which will limit Vick's financial liability in the lawsuit. A written
demand for payment was made August 24, but was not honored,
according to documents filed with the U.S. District Court in South Bend.


Hmmm...Involved in illegal dogfighting and illegal gambling, owns a
rental car business in a black neighborhood next to the third largest
airport in the United States....hmmmm.....I wonder what this guy is up to?

No, look away from the illegal gambling and drug-dealing business.
Focus on the dogs, my friend! Keep your eyes on the bichon frise! Edited by: PitBull

 

[White Shogun]

No, look away from the illegal gambling and drug-dealing business. Focus on the dogs, my friend! Keep your eyes on the bichon frise!

Good one, Pitbull. There is always more to the story with these guys. They are rarely ever involved in just one type of crime. I'm still waiting to see if they are going to involve any other NFL players in the dog fighting scheme.

 

[PitBull]

But the thing is, White Shogun, that I gotta believe that the team and his
corporate sponsors know about this stuff.Would you put that kind of
money behind someone without doing a through background check or
hiring guys to spy on him or look into his financial dealings? Its not too
hard to do.

The teams HAVE to know about this stuff, they have to! Same with the
corporate guys. I think they knew all about Vick and then the State of
Virginia came in aand messed it all up. So they got the feds to intervene.

I was checking out the timeline for the passage of that federal
dogfighting bill you mentioned. It moved awful fast this last spring--
before the news caught the Vick story. I would bet you anything the
intitial search of the Vick property was before the date stated in the
official timeline. I'd bet anything on it.Edited by: PitBull