A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick today in its probe of illegal dog fighting.

Vick and three others are charged with competitive dog fighting, procuring and training pit bulls for it and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

The men are accused of sponsoring brutal fights in which the losers often were drowned, hanged, shot or electrocuted.

The indictment alleges that Vick and his co-defendants began sponsoring dog fighting in early 2001, the former Virginia Tech star's rookie year with the Falcons.

If convicted, Vick and the others could face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution.

It accuses Vick, Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony Taylor of "knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal fighting venture," of conducting a business enterprise involving gambling and buying, transporting and receiving dogs for the purposes of an animal fighting venture.