AceShowbiz -

Football quarterback for the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons franchise, Michael Vick, was indicted Tuesday July 17th by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegal dogfighting. Vick and three other men; Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips, and Tony Taylor, were all charged with competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

The indictment alleged that Vick and the threesome began a dogfighting operation, named "Bad Newz Kennels," in early 2001 in which dogs fought to the death, or close. They had the dogs housed trained and fought at a Surry County, Va., property owned by Vick. Losing dogs were sometimes killed by electrocution, drowning, hanging or gunshots.

Speaking on that encounter, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said, "We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him. Michael Vick's guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts."

If convicted, Vick and the three men could face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution. To make matter worse, he will also face additional discipline by the NFL, even if he is not convicted.