RICHMOND, Va. -- Michael Vick's lawyer said Monday the NFL star will plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, putting the Atlanta Falcons quarterback's career in jeopardy and leaving him subject to a possible prison term.

The offense is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, although federal sentencing guidelines most likely would call for less.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend Vick be sentenced to between a year and 18 months in prison, according to a government official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the terms have not yet been made final.

The judge gathered reporters in his courtroom Monday and announced that no details of the plea agreement would be made public right now.

That would be a higher penalty than is usually recommended for first-time convicts, and reflects an attempt by the government to show that animal abusers will receive more than a slap on the wrist for their crimes, the official said.

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson will have the final say on how much time Vick will ultimately spend in jail.

Vick's attorney said he will enter his guilty plea in federal court next Monday, August 27.

Michael Vick is preparing to enter a plea agreement with prosecutors to avoid a trial on federal animal fighting charges.

Vick's lead attorney, Billy Martin, released a statement Monday that said, "After consulting with his family this weekend Michael Vick asked that I announce today that he has reached and agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him. Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to the charges and accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize everyone who has been hurt by this matter. The legal team and Mr. Vick will appear in court in Richmond on August 27."

Martin said salvaging Vick's NFL career was never part of the discussions.

"Football is not the most important thing in Michael Vick's life," he said. "He wants to get his life back on track."

Vick is charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. He had pleaded not guilty last month and vowed to clear his name at a November trial.

Martin's announcement came as a grand jury that could add new charges met in private. Prosecutors had said that a superseding indictment was in the works, but Vick's plea most likely means he will not face additional charges.

The two other co-defendants in the case, Purnell Peace of Virginia and Quanis Phillips of Atlanta, already pleaded guilty in the last week.

A fourth co-defendant, Tony Taylor, has already pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

Vick is scheduled to appear at his plea hearing along with his team of attorneys, including high-profile Washington DC litigator Billy Martin. It’s unclear if Vick would be sentenced immediately upon entering a plea.

Legal analysts and animal rights activists told WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News they’re not surprised by these revelations. John Goodwin, lead animal fighting investigator with the Humane Society of the United States, tells wsbtv.com, “The federal government already had four cooperating witnesses,” Goodwin said, “Now there are 3 co-defendants who have pled guilty – or are about to plead guilty – and testify against Michael Vick. That’s seven people who’ll say `(Vick) did it’. For Michael Vick, that’s a coffin with a whole lot of nails in it.”