Montgomery arrested on fraud charge
Tim Montgomery, whose once sparkling sprint career ended in doping disgrace, has been arrested in connection with a multi-million-dollar bank fraud scheme, prosecutors said in the United States.
The US attorney's office in New York said the arrest of Montgomery, who was due to appear in court in Norfolk, Virginia, was the result of a long-term investigation in which a grand jury has already charged at least 10 other defendants, including the now retired Montgomery's one-time coach, 1976 Olympic relay gold medallist Steven Riddick.
Prosecutors say all those charged are accused of taking part in a conspiracy to defraud banks by depositing more than $US5 million ($A6.6 million) "stolen, altered and counterfeit cheques, as well as proceeds from such cheques, and then to launder the procees from these checks through their various accounts."
Two coffee businesses in New York owned by a local couple were used to launder some of the money, the indictment alleges.
Defendants from the New York are are accused of sending fraudulent cheques to defendants from other areas, including Montgomery and Riddick in Virginia.
The charges are another blow to the 31-year-old sprinter, who was once hailed as the fastest man in the world.
But Montgomery was banned for doping, despite the lack of a positive test, based on information gathered in the BALCO steroid distribution case.
-AFP
