Olympian Tim Montgomery Gets 46 Months

Gold Medalist Track Star Sentenced For His Part In $1.7 Million Fake-Check Scheme

(AP)  Olympic gold medalist Tim Montgomery was sentenced to almost four years in prison Friday for his part in a fake-check scheme.

Montgomery hung his head as Judge Kenneth Karas imposed the sentence of 46 months.

The 33-year-old former track star pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy in a multimillion-dollar bank fraud and money laundering plot. Prosecutors said he had a hand in depositing bogus checks worth $1.7 million.

Montgomery retired in 2005 after he was banned from track and field for doping.

He has a child with Marion Jones, the track superstar who is now in prison for lying about the check scam and about her use of performance-enhancing drugs.

"I've had everything I ever wanted in life. I've stood on the top of the mountain," Montgomery told the court. But now, "the gold medal, all those people cheering, that was part of another world. ... In jail, my status is gone."

The judge told him, "Being a track star does not somehow disable someone from saying no."

"I know this is a tough day for you. Think about those kids," the judge said in an apparent reference to Montgomery's four children. ... That's what's going to help you say no next time."

After the sentencing, Montgomery nodded and smiled at his parents, siblings and a girlfriend.

"Tim has always made me proud of him. Like all sons, they do make mistakes," said Eddie Montgomery. He asked the court for leniency, saying the family would help Montgomery after his prison term.

"I love him; the family loves him, and we just want the best for him," said Montgomery's father.

Montgomery still faces drug-dealing charges in Virginia. In deciding on the prison term, the judge did not hold the new charges against Montgomery.

The check case also ensnared Montgomery's former coach, gold medalist Steve Riddick, and Jones' longtime agent, Charles Wells. Both pleaded guilty.

Montgomery won a silver medal in the 400 relay at the 1996 Olympics and a gold medal in the same event in 2000. In 2002, he set a world record of 9.78 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

The world record, and all his other performances after March 31, 2001, were wiped from the books, and he was banned from track for two years, for doping linked to the investigation of BALCO, the lab at the center of a steroid scandal in sports. Montgomery never tested positive for drugs and has said he never knowingly took any banned substances, but he retired after the ban was imposed.

In 2006, he was charged in the check scheme, which prosecutors said involved plans to deposit $5 million in stolen, altered or counterfeit checks over three years at several banks.

When Montgomery pleaded guilty in April 2007, he said, "I sincerely regret the role I played in this unfortunate episode. I have disappointed many people, and for that I am truly sorry."

But according to the Virginia indictment, Montgomery was dealing heroin four months later. He allegedly met four times with a confidential informant and sold a total of 111 grams of heroin for $8,450. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held pending a July trial in Norfolk.

[truthyness]

The Republicans are playing Blacks for fools.....

and they''re doing a pretty good job of it.

[abmitus]

Glock4me,

Your Mom is voting for Obama since he lost one vote. Tell her thanks. See ya Idiot!

[glock4me]

Without our media you folks would have to face reality on your own, and that would mean you seeing the reality of many minorities in America doing better than you and your children.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by timothyone at 10:30 PM : May 16, 2008


I might not have any olympic medals, but, considering that I am not in jail, I would say that I am doing better than this criminal. Also, the mainstream media is indeed racist, however, they are against the white man not for them. How else do you explain the MS media treatment of Obama?

[timothyone-2009]

I''m sure glad he is black, I''d hate to see you Republican/racist types with no one to condemn
and feel superior to. Without our media you folks
would have to face reality on your own, and that
would mean you seeing the reality of many
minorities in America doing better than you and your children. Without the daily overdose of "Look what the n*gg*rs are doing now" you might come to understand that
we are all human and are all deserving of opportunity.
Thank God for the racist mainstream media.

[glock4me]

One less vote for Obama!!!

[cyberdjs4]

Wow!

Talk about damaged DNA.
Now, there are 4 kids that will potentially follow in Dad''s footsteps [and Mom''s in one case].

[hedonist3]

MCVet - You are so weird, and the weirdness seems to be escalating. Please consider counseling.

[edward1975-2009]

Surprised that Sharpton or Jackson didn''t show up to spew their brand of racism. Just another sad case of an athelete falling from grace.

[usbrit-2009]

I remember the 4x100 track team posing and behaving generally like spoiled idiots after they won the gold in Sydney. How the mighty are fallen.

[liflyer]

How about in addition to straightening out your life Tim, you learn to keep it in your pants and stop fathering more illegitimate children...you already produced four.