RICHMOND, Va. – A federal judge sentenced Michael Vick on Monday morning to 23 months in prison, delivering the climactic punishment in a dogfighting case that infuriated animal rights supporters and angered others who felt the suspended NFL star was treated too harshly for his crime.

Vick, 27, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who 10 days ago sentenced two of Vick’s co-defendants to prison terms of 18 months and 21 months for their roles in the conspiracy.

Vick, who turned himself in three weeks ago, entered the courtroom Monday wearing a white and black striped jail jumpsuit.

Hudson refused to give Vick credit for accepting responsibility in the case; he ruled Vick wasn’t fully honest in his confessions to the government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gill said: “He chose not to come forward and be completely forthright with us.”

Vick’s attorneys asked for leniency, saying that he grew up in a tough area of Newport News, Va., that he struggled with depression and was self-medicating with marijuana.

Hudson said he received thousands of letters on the case. Many were in support of Vick, including the mayor of Atlanta, baseball legend Hank Aaron and boxing legend George Foreman.

Hudson said he recognized the “monumental collateral consequences” the case has had on Vick’s career. Hudson commended Vick for donating to humane society programs, but said he still did not accept full responsibility.

Vick apologized in court to the judge, his family and kids for “what I’ve done” and said he was willing to deal with the consequences of his actions. When he finished, Hudson told him: “I think you need to also apologize to the millions of young people who look up to you.”

Vick pleaded guilty in August to a felony charge of conspiring to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. The crime carried a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Vick will pay a $5,000 fine and have three years of supervised release following prison.

Vick, who is from Newport News, admitted to buying a 15-acre property in 2001 in rural Surry County, Va., and using the land for the next six years to support a pit bull-fighting operation called Bad Newz Kennels. He and three other men admitted that their outfit sponsored matches against dog-fighters from other states, bet thousands of dollars on the fights and killed dogs that performed poorly, some by hanging and drowning.

The case broke in late April when local authorities searched the Surry County property while investigating a drug case involving Vick’s cousin, who was living there. They discovered more than 50 pit bulls and evidence of dogfighting, leading to federal indictments of Vick and his co-defendants.

After his first court appearance in July, Vick issued a statement through his attorney that asked the public to withhold judgment and said he looked forward to “clearing my good name.”

That position changed dramatically a month later, when Vick returned to the federal courthouse to plead guilty. He issued a public apology and said he was “ashamed and totally disappointed in myself, to say the least.”

Throngs of people lined the streets at his two summer court appearances. One side held signs showing mauled dogs and called for harsh punishment; the other cheered Vick and complained that the public outcry against him was too much.

The NFL suspended Vick indefinitely when he accepted his plea agreement.

In a signed summary of the case, Vick admitted to providing most of the money to fund Bad Newz Kennels and the bets it placed, but he maintained that he did not place bets himself and did not receive proceeds from the winnings. His three co-defendants, Purnell Peace, Tony Taylor and Quanis Phillips, generally split the purses, according to his confession.

Hudson sentenced Peace to 18 months in prison and Phillips to 21 months, exceeding the recommendations of prosecutors. Phillips received more time because of his criminal history. Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.

He also agreed to pay at least $928,000 in restitution to cover the costs associated with the care of the pit bulls taken from his property. Hudson ordered that 47 remaining dogs be distributed to eight animal rescue groups throughout the country, with the possibility that they might some day be adopted.

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PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): FBN-VICK

AP-NY-12-10-07 1743EST