NORFOLK
One-time Olympic champion Tim Montgomery pleaded guilty Thursday to heroin distribution charges, completing a spectacular fall from athletic superstardom to federal prison inmate.
Montgomery, 33, will face at least five more years in prison on top of the four he already is serving for counterfeiting checks.
Once dubbed the fastest human on Earth, Montgomery smiled as he entered the courtroom in handcuffs. The South Carolina native and former Norfolk State University track star had no family or friends in the room.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams, or about 4 ounces, of heroin. He politely answered, "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" to questions by U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Friedman about his understanding of the charge and potential punishment.
"Are you pleading guilty because you are in fact guilty of the charge?" Friedman asked him.
"Yes, sir," Montgomery replied.
The evidence against him was overwhelming.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents recorded video and audio of four heroin sales by Montgomery to an informant, who has not been identified, in Norfolk and Virginia Beach between August and April, according to court records filed by federal prosecutors.
James Broccoletti, Montgomery's attorney, said the recordings, some taken at night, were crystal clear.
A federal prosecutor and DEA agent declined to comment after Thursday's proceeding.
At the time of the drug sales, Montgomery was out on bond after having pleaded guilty to federal check counterfeiting charges in New York. Montgomery was part of ring that included his one-time Norfolk State coach Steve Riddick. Montgomery was sentenced in May to just less than four years in prison.
Broccoletti said he had no comment on why Montgomery fell into a life of crime after achieving world-renowned status in track and field, only to say that Montgomery has "reflected" on his life's choices and has decided to accept responsibility for his actions and move on.
"This is a day that, instead of hitting rock bottom, it is a day to begin over," Broccoletti said outside court.
"Tim is optimistic. He's very resourceful," he continued. "This is the first day of the rest of his life."
In a jailhouse interview with The Virginian-Pilot after his arrest in May, Montgomery denied knowing anything about heroin sales, calling his arrest "a total surprise."
At the time, he had been living in Virginia Beach and helping promote the nightclub Encore.
Montgomery won a gold medal in the 400 relay at the 2000 Olympics and a silver medal with the 400 relay team at the 1996 Olympics.
He broke the world record in the 100-meter-dash in 2002 with a time of 9.78 seconds. ( Last week, at the Olympic time trials in Oregon, Tyson Gay set an American record in the 100 meters with a time of 9.77 seconds.)
Montgomery was stripped of his world record and medals achieved since the Olympics after being linked to steroid use in 2005.
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
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What a loser
Why honor the dope dealer by printing his photo?
Bad boys, whatcha-gonna-do when they come for you?!
Why the Bush bashing? You guys need to stay on topic.
Can't show you
bush's behind-the-lines "military" record.
It seem's they have lost them.
Connect the dots for us
I'd be interested in knowing what military record Bush supposedly falsified. If he had falsified records,I seriously doubt the Republicans would have ever run him as their candidate. And I agree that this kid has nothing to do with Bush or any other politican.
Watch.dog:
Being a gold medal winner doesn't entitle one to a guaranteed job at the expense of the taxpayers. Montgomery made a personal choice to counterfeit checks and peddle drugs, and now he has to pay for making a bad choice.
Dan Rather tried to be a watch dog and lost his job as the evening new anchor for CBS for trying to hang the falsified military service rap on President Bush, and here you are perpetuating a story that a one-time big shot like Rather couldn't prove. I don't know if you just hate President Bush or if you're eaten up with envy because he had a rich daddy, but either way, President Bush had absolutely nothing to do with the story about Montgomery's criminal ventures.
Athletes at higher standard????
I sure as heck don't hold them to a higher standard. As far as I'm concerned they are all over paid men that some people want to worship and can do no wrong. That's a myth!
Tim Montgomery
What a waste Mr. Montgomery had all the breaks, he got to go to school were he should have gotten an education for life after the Olympics.
He chose to sell duugs and not only ruin his life but those he sold drugs too. His medals he should keep, he won those before he loss his mind, and the time he got maybe not enough. The sentencing guide line should be amended to fit the crime.
More time
Anyone peddling heroin has no respect whatsoever for human lives. This stuff destroys lives. I see it no differently than assaulting or killing somebody as is the end result. For personal gain? How can you do that to another person for personal gain? This crime deserves more time for punishment in line with the damage and as a deterrent.
Why?
Why do we as a society continue to hold athletes to a higher standard? This is no more newsworthy than any other dope dealer.
jmo
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Something wrong here...
What is the matter with our system that Olympic athletes would need to go down the road this one has to get money? Olympic athletes in other countries are state sponsored and have jobs waiting for them when they are done. Too many cases like this in the past few years sends up a red flag to me. Someone here bring up some statistics about Olympic athletes from other countries and see if they fare better than ours do??? It is just not right for these athletes who give their all to be dashed down by the need for money and we have a President who did drugs and alcohol and falsified his military service and got away with it because he had a rich daddy.
Bad Things
All I can say is bad things happen to bad people. He got what he deserved.
Let me explain
First of all, I apologize, the "star" should keep his medals of honor, but should be made an example about of. He earned the medals, legally, I imagine. As far as my son, he DID NOT complete his degree. He was a foolish young man and has paid emotionally and so have his parents for becoming involved in substance abuse. He's no longer using, thank God. His 20's have been hellish which should have been his best years. Partying and acting out, were more important to him than being able to get a college degree. Not just my son, but anyone's loved one could have been a victim of being sold an illegal drug.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
All that talent and promise wasted.
Lock him up!
What a fall, from Olympic great to drug dealer. He is a big boy, he deserves the jail time, maybe more. Jail time may save his life. He had it all and crashed into jail. I wonder how many people died because of his actions drug peddling. He is a national disgrace. I'll bet his momma is deeply hurt.
Beck...
I agree that this guy deserves more time for the stupidity that he has displayed. Taking away his medals is a little extreme considering this all took place after he received those. Kids should not look up to him, but he should be shown as an example of what not to do. You said that your son went to college and went through his experimental phase, but would you think it right to strip him of his degree if he was convicted of a similar crime?
Are you stupid or something!
He must think he's above the law. He needs to be stripped of his status in the Olympic arena. Any medals should be taken down. He's no one to respect and look up to. Was it really worth it to sell more drugs? He's an idiot. I'm glad he got more time but it's not enough. Suppose he sold it to one of my kids that has alrealdy had his years in college acting like a fool on drugs. Needless to say, he wasted our money and his time and now is scraping for jobs. Jobs that pay nothing. Here, an Olympian, what a fool.
Beck
Chesapeake, VA