Former Olympic Gold Medalist sentenced to Prison for Fraud

The once fastest man in the world bunged in jail. Olympic gold medalist and former 100m record holder, Tim Montgomery of the United States was sentenced to 46 months in prison on Friday for a multimillion-dollar check fraud scheme.

"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. I am just as human as everyone else."

Montgomery pleaded guilty last year when prosecutors determined his involvement in depositing bogus checks worth $1.7 million.

Judge Kenneth Karas imposed the maximum sentence allowed under federal guidelines, as he held Montgomery responsible for getting his coach, 1976 Olympic gold medalist Steven Riddick, his agent, Charles Wells and former track superstar Marion Jones involved in the scheme, much to the disgrace of all.

Montgomery has a child with Jones, who was sentenced to six months for misleading investigators about the conspiracy and for lying about her use of performance-enhancing drugs in another probe. She was stripped of her five 2000 Olympic track medals and is in jail.

Montgomery won a gold medal in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, as a member of the United States 4x100-meter relay team. Two years later, he set a 100-meter world record of 9.78 seconds but was banned in 2005, from track and field for doping.

"Being a track star does not somehow disable someone from saying no," Karas told the sprinter. "I know this is a tough day for you. Think about those kids," he said, referring to Montgomery's four children. "... That's what's going to help you say no next time."

Montgomery still faces drug-dealing charges in Virginia, which were not held by the Judge in deciding on the prison term.