Marion Jones Gets 6 Months In Prison

Disgraced Olympian Sentenced For Lying About Steroids, Check Fraud

(CBS/AP)  Marion Jones was sentenced Friday to six months in prison for lying about using steroids and a check-fraud scam, despite beseeching the judge that she not be separated from her two young children "even for a short period of time."

"I ask you to be as merciful as a human being can be," said Jones, who cried on her husband's shoulder after she was sentenced.

The disgraced former Olympic champion was ordered to surrender March 11 to begin her term.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas said he gave her the maximum under the plea deal to send a message to athletes who have abused drugs and overlooked the values of "hard work, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship."

"Athletes in society have an elevated status, they entertain, they inspire, and perhaps, most important, they serve as role models," Karas said.

Later Friday, Karas was to sentence Jones' former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, who was convicted in the check-fraud scam.

The 31-year-old Jones also was given two years' probation and supervised release, during which she will be required to perform 800 hours of community service.

"As everyone can imagine, I'm very disappointed today," Jones told reporters outside court. "But as I stood in front of all of you for years in victory, I stand in front of you today. I stand for what is right."

"I respect the judge's order, and I truly hope that people will learn from my mistakes," added Jones.

The judge said Jones' community service requirement would take advantage of her "eloquence, strength and her ability to work with kids."

It was her children that worried Jones as she pleaded for a lighter sentence, talking at length about her two boys, including the infant son she's still nursing.

"My passion in life has always been my family," Jones said. "I know the day is quickly approaching when my boys ask me about these current events. I intend to be honest and forthright ... and guide them into not making the same mistakes."

The sentence completes a stunning fall for the woman who was once the most celebrated female athlete in the world. She won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

After long denying she ever had used performance-enhancing drugs, Jones admitted last October she lied to federal investigators in November 2003, acknowledging she took the designer steroid "the clear" from September 2000 to July 2001. "The clear" has been linked to BALCO, the lab at the center of the steroids scandal in professional sports.

"I think athletes have been under the misconception for a long time that they're untouchable and here, you lie to a prosecutor and you go down for perjury," Sports Illustrated writer Luis Fernando Llosa told CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller.

Jones also admitted lying about her knowledge of the involvement of Tim Montgomery, the father of her older son Monty, in a scheme to cash millions of dollars worth of stolen or forged checks. Montgomery and several others have been convicted in that scam.

"The revelation that one of the sport's biggest stars took performance-enhancing drugs and repeatedly lied about it, in addition to being a party to fraud, has no silver lining," USA Track & Field president Bill Roe and CEO Craig Masback said in a statement. "But, it is a vivid morality play that graphically illustrates the wages of cheating in any facet of life, on or off the track."

After her guilty pleas last October, Jones made an apologetic and teary-eyed statement outside court, saying, "It's with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust."

"I have been dishonest, and you have the right to be angry with me," she added. "I have let (my family) down. I have let my country down, and I have let myself down. ... I want to ask for your forgiveness for my actions, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative founder Victor Conte, who served four months in prison after pleading guilty to operating a steroids distribution ring, said Friday he felt sad for Jones and her family.

"Marion did make some very poor choices, and she does deserve serious consequences. I certainly don't condone her repeated lies," Conte said in a statement. "There is no doubt in my mind that she has learned gigantic lessons. Hopefully, she will be able to serve as an example and help others to make good decisions."

Jones returned her Olympic medals - golds in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 1,600-meter relay and bronzes in the long jump and 400-meter relay - even before the International Olympic Committee ordered her to do so and wiped her results from the books.

She was among the many athletes who testified in 2003 before a grand jury investigating BALCO. And on the day she pleaded guilty, prosecutors said a 2003 search warrant at BALCO uncovered ledgers, purchases, doping calendars, and various blood-test results connected to Jones and former coach Trevor Graham.

She took EPO, human growth hormone and THG using drops and injections, according to the court documents that show use in 2000 and 2001.

[huanaco]

HOW ABOUT BASEBALL PLAYERS ?

[iceman_1960]

Marion Jones gets 6 months in jail but Bill Romanowski doesn"t even get half an hour of community service.

Bill Romanowski, one of the meanest guys in the NFL, a player who spit in the faces of opponents and once threw a devastating punch at teammate Marcus Williams, ending the guy"s career, vrs. Marion Jones, who never hurt a fly.

("Bill Romanowski is suspected in taking steroids to help him excel in football. One of the side affects to taking steroids is something people call "roid rage." This is when a person on steroids takes his anger out of something or someone that is not a big deal. In 2003 Bill Romanowski smashed Marcus Williams face with one punch during a practice. Williams was awarded $340,000 dollars in damages. This was probably caused by roid rage.")

[iceman_1960]

"...go to youtube and type in "Bush lusting"

LOL - makes me crack up everytime !!!"
- Posted by bobacorn at 05:33 AM : Jan 12, 2008

Interesting video. Bush looked more like he was making a brave attempt not to look bored.

He was thinking "Cripes, how much longer does this go on ?"

[iceman_1960]

Marion Jones was sentenced Friday to six months in prison for lying about using steroids and a check-fraud scam, despite beseeching the judge that she not be separated from her two young children "even for a short period of time."

[blackyowe]

The system let her down. When everyone is doing it how are going to be in a sport when its the norm? Sorry but all sports are so full of drug use, we either test everyone all the time or get over it and live with the drug feature in sports. It''s only a matter of who gets caught. Lance Armstrong used them too believe it or not. He just didn''t get caught. I still remember when everyone whispered about the Russians pumping up with drugs. I also remember when only amateurs were in the Olympics. We have copied the Russians now haven''t we? Power and greed has taken over sports to a degree the whole playing field is littered with needles and broken hearts. I weep for Marion and keep her in my prayers.

[kailumego1]

All this hate, for what, are you people mentally disturbed, she isn''t a murderer, bank robber, etc., why so much "hate".

[adiant-2009]

This lady is not only disgraced, she is disgrace and she is a disgrace. What a shame!!! She should have been put in jail for quite a lonnnggger time. Six months is not enough for a disgraced person like this one.

[denn034]

Prison time here seems unwarranted.

[jerr11]

This gal is a genuine heroine.

She made some mistakes and now she''s man enough to own up to them, and take the rap.

But not that Liar-in-Chief in the White House.

Still trying to cover his lies that is leading the nation to bankrupcy and ruin.

4000 DEAD AMERICANS, BECAUSE OF HIS LIES!

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IRAQIS DEAD, BECAUSE OF HIS LIES!

1.9 TRILLION TAXPAYERS DOLLARS DOWN THE TUBE, BECAUSE OF HIS LIES!

THE COUNTRY IN HOCK TO THE CHINESE, BECAUSE OF HIS LIES.

THIS BUTCHER OF CRAWFORD AND HIS PROGENY IS DAMNED FOR ALL TIME FOR HIS CYNICAL PLOT TO ENRICH HOS BUDDIES BY SACRICING AMERICAN BLOOD ON HIS ALTAR OF GREED.

[tricia-ny]

Olympic sports and professional sports are completely different. Show me a "pro" athlete who actuallly gives a *** about anything other then getting paid.

(There are a few acceptions, the legends of the sports, the old timers...)

They is something unique about an olympian..they are the best of the best in the world, No pro athlete can say that! No big pay days for them,...it all about the hard work, dedication and time...Jones violated that utopia...I''m someone who appreciated the Olympics and have watched every one ( summer & winter ) since I was a child.

She got off easy..!

[thgdriver]

jowand

How much money for attorneys did this girl have? How much money does Barry Bonds and others in baseball/football have to spend on the best attorneys money can buy? I''ll be very surprised if bonds gets jail time for lying.

Is this girl going to jail for wrongdoing or lack of funds to hire the very best attorney''s money can buy?

[jowand]

I''''m glad your going to jail, go to hell next too.

You swore up and down that you never took enhancements each time you were accused. You were so teary eyed and hurt when people didnt believe you. There were people out there like me who trusted you and wanted to defend you. Now your nothing but a lying, pathetic, loser. Your children as they get older will be ashamed of you.
Posted by amm111 at 10:31 AM : Jan 12, 2008

She''s is going to jail for perjury, hmmm, depends who you are on perjury sentencing/penalties. Is it worse to lie about steroid use or *** to the courts? Half of Baseball is shooting up on steroids and many think it is ok. Kick Bonds out of the record books, and out of baseball where is the fairness?

[amm111]

I''m glad your going to jail, go to hell next too.

You swore up and down that you never took enhancements each time you were accused. You were so teary eyed and hurt when people didnt believe you. There were people out there like me who trusted you and wanted to defend you. Now your nothing but a lying, pathetic, loser. Your children as they get older will be ashamed of you.

[iceman_1960]

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[thgdriver]

and THG using drops and injections,

I don''t think her lying should = jail time. She paid a very high price in disgrace alone.

How much time did Bill Clinton serve for lying?? None!!!!

[bobacorn]

If anyone wants to be one of the .00000005 percent of people in the world who have seen some funny stuff today, go to youtube and type in "Bush lusting"

LOL - makes me crack up everytime !!!

[mediapreachr]

"Marion Jones Gets 6 Months In Prison"
Apparently she didn''t make enough money,and wrote some bad checks too...
Scratch off this "role model"...
And by the way the worst offenders in sport were the East Germans,that''s where the "bodybuilding Heidi"joke came from.

[mediapreachr]

''Debra Lafave raped a 14yr old boy and got house arrest and probation''Posted by RealTalk5950 at 07:53 PM : Jan 11, 2008
I hardly think wearing as* high miniskirt and occasionally throwing your legs behind your head (as Debra Lafave did)would qualify as rape...
If logic instead of emotion would rule our head,I''m certain a lot less of us would be on today on this forum.

[Krazcarl]

Why you folks so cruel she ran track wasn''t a brain surgeon we''ve all taken a short cut once or twice maybe not with pills but we have she ment to hurt no one just be the best and was she''s not a murderer or child molester love the line send a message this will not affect my life one way or the other only person she hurt was herself I''m white I think the verdict was racialy motavated probation would have been fine .

[fiteit1]

Debra La Farve raped a 14yr old boy and got house arrest and probabtion.

Women don''t rape 14yr old boys, they just give them private *** eductaction lessons.