Tim Montgomery Track Olympian Gets 5 Year Prison Sentence

Posted on: October 10th, 2008 by: Meg

Tim Montgomery, Olympic gold medalist in 2000 and a silver medalist in 1996, received a five year prison term for dealing heroin to an informant. He will serve the sentence after finished the four year term he is already serving.

The 33 year old track and field champion, in an agreement with the government, pleaded guilty in July to possession and distribution of more than 100 grams of heroin. In exchange, he was given the minimum sentence under federal sentencing guidelines. He will complete the sentence after he finishes doing time on an unrelated check-kiting scheme.

Montgomery has been ordered to a five year supervised release and drug testing program after he finishes serving his time. The prosecutor, Eric M. Hurt called the former athlete “totally irresponsible” for fathering four children with four different women, including disgraced Olympian Marion Jones. He went on to say, “What we find here is someone who has wrecked his life. He has chosen to ignore every benefit given to him.”

The seemingly super-human athletic skills that took him to glory in the 400-meter relay were wiped off the record books after a doping scandal that linked him to BALCO. He retired in December 2005 after the ban was imposed. Last year he admitted helping his former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, and others cash $1.7 million in stolen and counterfeit checks.

In a brief remark after sentencing, Montgomery said, “I just want to say I’m very sorry for what I’ve done. I’m sorry to my community and my family.”

Check out photos of Montgomery and Marion Jones below.