Tim Montgomery jailed for nearly four years

White Plains, May 17:

Former 100-metre world record holder Tim Montgomery was sentenced to 46 months in prison for his part in a multimillion-dollar fake-check scheme.

The former Olympic champion, 33, hung his head as Judge Kenneth Karas imposed the sentence. Montgomery pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy in the 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 athletics for doping. He has a child with Marion Jones, who is now in prison for lying about the check scam and about her doping.

After the sentencing, Montgomery nodded and smiled at his parents, siblings and a girlfriend. Montgomery still faces drug-dealing charges in Virginia. In deciding on the prison term, the judge did not hold the new charges against Montgomery.