Man who sold dogs to Vick pleads guilty
Lawyer Blogs
A man who sold Michael Vick two pitbulls for his dogfighting operation pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Richmond to the same charges for which the Falcons quarterback and three co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.
Oscar Allen, of Williamsburg, Va., waived indictment and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to a criminal information charging him with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce to aid in illegal gambling and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting.
According to court documents, in or about 2001, Allen -- known as "Virginia O" -- bred a litter of puppies for Bad Newz Kennels, the name of Vick's dogfighting operation, for use in animal fighting. One of the puppies was a male pitbull named Magic. In or about 2002 or 2003, Allen also sold Vick and his co-defendants a female pitbull named Jane, according to the documents. Both dogs are mentioned by name in court documents in Vick's case.
Allen also acknowledges that he gave members of Bad Newz Kennels, comprised of Vick, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor, advice on the operation of a dogfighting kennel and attended dogfights at Vick's rural Virginia home, 1915 Moonlight Road, in Surry County. Allen also stated that he was present in April 2007 when Vick, Peace and Phillips tested dogs to determine if they would be good fighters. The dogs that did not test well were executed, but Allen said he was not present.
Court documents specifically refer to Bad Newz Kennels and Vick's address, but refer to the co-defendants as M.V., P.P., Q.P. and T.T.
Allen, 67, will be sentenced Jan. 25, 2008, in Richmond in front of Judge Henry E. Hudson, who will also sentence Vick and his co-defendants. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was released with conditions.
Vick and his co-defendants also face state charges in Virginia. Another hearing in that case is scheduled for Nov. 27.
In the federal case, Phillips and Peace will be sentenced Nov. 30. Vick will be sentenced on Dec. 10, the same day the Falcons play New Orleans on "Monday Night Football" without the quarterback who has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Taylor, the first of the co-defendants to reach a plea agreement, will be sentenced Dec. 14.
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