RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The final defendant in the Michael Vick dogfighting case drew a two-month jail term from a federal judge in Virginia, receiving leniency for his cooperation.
Tony Taylor, 35, of Newport News, Va., was the first to accept a plea agreement from prosecutors after he, Vick and two others were indicted in July on a felony charge of conspiring to run an interstate dogfighting ring, The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk reported Friday.
"He was the most significant source of information in this case," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gill said during the hearing in Richmond, Va. "From the very start, your honor, he did not hesitate in any way."
Gill recommended no incarceration for Taylor. However, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson said he was uncomfortable allowing Taylor not to be jailed when he had sentenced the other defendants to terms between 18 months and 23 months.
Vick, the suspended Atlanta Falcons' quarterback, was sentenced to 23 months in prison. The other two defendants, Quanis Phillips and Purnell Peace, were sentenced to 18 months and 21 months, respectively.
All four men also face state charges.
