Vick sentenced to 23 months in prison

RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for his role in a dogfighting operation.

Vick, 27, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and sponsoring a dog in an animal-fighting venture. He could have been sentenced to five years in prison.

Prosecutors, as part of a plea agreement, suggested Vick be sentenced to 12-18 months but U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson imposed the 23-month term.

Vick surrendered to federal authorities Nov. 19 to begin serving his prison sentence early.

Vick and three other men were charged in a federal indictment alleging they operated an animal-fighting business on property the football star owned in Virginia. Dogs were forced to fight, sometimes to the death, and animals that didn't perform well were killed, the indictment said.

Two other men in the case were given slightly shorter prison terms than Vick. The fourth man is to be sentenced Friday.

All four also face state charges.

Vick was suspended by the NFL in August after he entered his guilty plea.