Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in jail under the accusation of participating in a dog-fighting ring and also for putting the dogs that underperformed to death.
The judge who gave the sentence in the US District Court in Richmond, Virgina was Henry E Hudson. He also gave the Atlanta Falcons former star quarterback a 5,000-dollar fine and three years of probation.

The Monday sentencing hearing took 90 minutes and was held in the federal court of Richmond, Virginia. The defendant was dressed in a black-and-white striped prison suit and took the occasion to apologize to his family and to judge Hudson as well.

"You need to apologize also to the millions of young people who look up to you," U.S. District Judge swiftly replied.

"I am willing to deal with the consequences and accept responsibility for my actions," Vick continued.

However Judge Hudson remained impassive.

"I'm convinced it was not a momentary lack of judgment on your part. You were a full partner," he told Vick.

Michael Vick had already checked into prison on November 19 in anticipation as he was facing a maximum sentence of five years on the federal charges.

In August, the 27-year-old quarterback reached an agreement with government prosecutors. Vick admitted that he financed and took part in the ring, but denied that he ever gambled on the outcome of the canine fights.

"I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself to say the least," Vick said in August. "What I did was very immature so that means I need to grow up," he added.

In 2005, Michael Vick signed a 10-year, 130 million-dollar contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Back then he was one of the leagues most illustrious players.

He was already involved in the “Bad Newz Kennels” operation since 2001. The operation vas mainly financed by Vick, who paid for the house, in Surry County, Virginia, where the dogs were kenneled and where several fights were set, the summary said.

The members of “Bad Newz Kennels”, including Vick, were disposing of the dogs that didn’t meet their expectations or lost the fights by drowning, electrocution and other similar means.

Soon after this was found out, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote to Vick and informed him that he is suspended from the league indefinitely. Shortly after, Falcons owner Arthur Blank issued a statement in which he expressed his support for Goodell’s decision.

The charges against Vick stirred national outrage and resulted in a black eye for the National Football League (NFL), which has been plagued in recent years by poor player behavior off the field.