Tony Taylor, accused with NFL quarterback Michael Vick of operating an interstate dogfighting conspiracy, is set to plead guilty in two days and may be cooperating with federal authorities.

A U.S. District Court yesterday scheduled a plea agreement hearing for Taylor at 9 a.m. Monday before Judge Henry E. Hudson. Hudson also signed a sealed order in the dogfighting case yesterday, which may or may not be connected with Taylor's plea agreement.

"This could be extremely bad news for Vick," said Steven Benjamin, a prominent Richmond defense lawyer. "If Taylor is pleading, he's cooperating with the prosecution. What we don't know is what he knows."

A call to Taylor's attorney, Stephen Ashton Hudgins of Newport News, was not immediately returned last night. The U.S. attorney's office declined to comment.

A federal grand jury indicted Vick, Taylor and two other co-defendants July 17 for "conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal-fighting venture."

Taylor, 34, is from Hampton, a city on the Peninsula next to Newport News, which is Vick's hometown. Vick, 27, is a former Virginia Tech star quarterback who lives in Atlanta, where he plays for the Falcons.

Also charged are Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, and Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta. Each defendant faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

If Taylor has knowledge that could hurt Vick or the other defendants, his agreement with federal prosecutors could transform the resolution of the case, now set for trial beginning in November.

Benjamin said it is rare for a defendant to plead to the indictment as charged. The defendant often is allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge or fewer counts. The government gets the defendant's promise of full cooperation, truthfully telling what he knows to investigators, prosecutors, the grand jury and at trial.

Benjamin cautioned that it is possible Taylor is pleading guilty for his own reasons without a promise of cooperation and will have little information to add to the case.

The dogfighting investigation began after an April 25 search of property Vick owns at 1915 Moonlight Road in Surry County. Authorities discovered 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment that could be used to train fighting dogs.

The indictment against the four men alleges that they operated Bad Newz Kennels at the Surry property from 2001 until about three months ago. The group acquired and trained American pit bulls, entered them in fights elsewhere and hosted fights at the Vick property, court documents allege.

Through 2003, Bad Newz dogs and the defendants took part in about eight organized fights, some sponsored at 1915 Moonlight Road and some elsewhere in Virginia and in other states, according to the indictment. Purses ranged from a couple of thousand dollars to $26,000 for one match. In 2004 and 2005, Bad Newz hosted approximately 10 fights at the Vick property, authorities say.

Over the years, it was the Bad Newz Kennels' custom to kill young dogs that did not show fighting aptitude and sufficient aggressiveness when they were tested in matches with other dogs, according to the indictment. It adds that in April, Vick, Peace and Phillips killed about eight dogs by methods including hanging, drowning and slamming the dog's body to the ground.

The Atlanta Falcons began their training camp in Florida on Thursday, the day Vick was arraigned, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Vick to stay away as the league reviews the charges against him.
Contact Tom Campbell at (804) 649-6416 or tcampbell@timesdispatch.com.