Marion Jones, former track star and five time Olympic medalist, reported to the Federal Medical Center-Carswell correctional facility four days before she was required to begin her six month prison sentence on March 11, 2008.
Jones, who was assigned inmate number 84868/054 by the Fort Worth, Texas prison, was sentenced on January 11 2008 by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas for perjury relating to her use of steroids and involvement in a multi-million dollar check-fraud scam with her ex-boyfriend and former coach Tim Montgomery.
While facing a maximum sentence of up to five years, the prosecution requested no more than a six month term in accordance with her plea bargain.
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In addition to six months in the minimum security prison which specializes in medical and mental health services, Jones‘ sentence also includes 200 hours of community service and two years probation following her prison term.
After denying for years the use of steroids, Jones admitted to using Tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG, in 1999 through 2001, including time during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The designer drug has been linked to numerous other athletes including Barry Bonds who was indicted on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.
THG was banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, just four years before Jones admitted that she had lied to investigators about using the substance.
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Jones also admitted to lying about her knowledge of Montgomery‘s scheme to cash millions of dollars in forged checks.
Check-fraud scheme, which is a federal offense, and the use of steroids “affects the integrity of athletic competition,” said Judge Karas.
The 32 year-old athlete was stripped of the three gold and two bronze medals she won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, in addition to being banned from competitions by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation). Jones announced her retirement from track and field on October 5, 2007.
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Reported by Krysten Hughes.
