NFL star indicted in Virginia dog fighting

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three other men were indicted on conspiracy charges tied to a dog-fighting operation by a federal grand jury in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday.

They are charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and to sponsor a dog in an animal-fight venture, according to documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia.

If convicted on the travel and interstate commerce portion, each faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conviction on the animal-fighting part of the charges could bring each one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Charged along with Vick, 27, were Purnell Peace, 35, Quanis Phillips, 28, and Tony Taylor, 34.

They were involved in an animal fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" based out of a property in Smithfield, Virginia, from early 2001 through April 2007 that was owned by Vick, according to the indictment.

The defendants used the property for housing and training pit bulls used in dog fights, court papers said.

The indictment charges that people and dogs traveled from states including South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and Alabama to participate.

Purses ranged into thousands of dollars for a fight that would last until the death or surrender of a dog. Sometimes the losing dog was put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot or electrocution, court papers said.

The indictment says the defendants crossed state lines to participate in dog fights in North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and New Jersey.

It also says they "tested" their pit bulls to determine if they were good fighters, and those deemed not good enough were sometimes killed.