Former world record holder imprisoned

FORMER Olympic sprinter Tim Montgomery has been sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for his role in a cheque-fraud scheme.

Montgomery, 33, pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan in April 2007 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of bank fraud in a counterfeit cheque scheme that also embroiled fellow sprinter and former partner Marion Jones, their former coach Steve Riddick and Charles Wells, their former sports agent.

Montgomery learned his fate at the United States Federal Court in White Plains, New York from US District Judge, the Hon Kenneth M Karas. Attorneys for Montgomery had agreed with prosecutors that, having pleaded guilty, a sentence of between 37 to 46 months in prison was appropriate and he received the maximum jail time within those parameters.