RICHMOND, Va. -- The court where Michael Vick is expected to plead guilty to dogfighting charges hands down some of the toughest sentences in the federal court system.

The judges in the Fourth Circuit are particularly hard on defendants in racketeering cases, which may be why Vick is trying to negotiate a plea deal on lesser charges.

Prosecutors said they plan to add racketeering charges to the Vick case if he doesn't accept a plea deal.

In 2006 judges in the federal court in Richmond sentenced defendants in racketeering cases to an average of 110 months in federal prison. That was higher than the national average of 95 months.

In the miscellaneous category, where the dogfighting charges fall, the average sentence in the Fourth Circuit was 12 months.

In a plea deal, the prosecutors usually make a recommendation on sentencing, but a judge is not obligated to honor that suggestion and can hand down whatever sentence they want.

Sources close to the Vick case say he also faces a hefty fine.

The Falcons quarterback reportedly is looking for a deal that will allow him to continue to play football in the NFL.

League officials have been mum on whether they would allow Vick to play if he is convicted on felony charges.

Observers familiar with the case now think it's likely Vick will enter his plea along with two co-defendants on Friday.

The hearing for Purnell Peace, one of Vick's co-defendants, was set for Thursday morning, but has been reschuduled for Friday morning. The other remaining co-defendant, 28-year-old Quanis Phillips of Atlanta, will also enter a plea at that hearing.

Another of Vick's original co-defendants, Tony Taylor, pleaded guilty July 30 to taking part in a dogfighting conspiracy he said was financed by the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

As part of a plea agreement, Taylor pledged to fully cooperate with the government in its prosecution of Vick, Peace and Phillips.

They are accused of running an interstate dogfighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" on Vick's property in rural Surry County.