May 13, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1428

NEW YORK, May 12: Athletics coach Steve Riddick has been found guilty in federal court of bank fraud and money laundering charges stemming from a scheme in which disgraced sprinter Tim Montgomery was also involved, prosecutors said Friday.

Riddick, a 1976 Montreal Olympic gold medallist, and businessman Nathaniel Alexander were found guilty by a jury late Thursday of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering after a trial lasting one month.

Montgomery, who retired in 2005 after receiving a two-year ban for doping that also wiped out his 100m world record, had last month pleaded guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of bank fraud in the same case.

Montgomery's agent, Charles Wells, also pleaded guilty.

Prosecutor Michael J. Garcia said the conspirators procured stolen, altered or counterfeit checks then cashed or attempted to cash them in various ways.

Prosecutors presented evidence during Riddick's trial that the coach himself funneled about 200,000 dollars in checks back to his co-conspirators, and Alexander did the same with at least 150,000 dollars, including a 25,000-dollar check to Riddick's sister and a 25,000-dollar check to athletics star Marion Jones, Montgomery's then girlfriend.

Riddick faces a maximum of sentence of 110 years in prison, while Alexander faces faces a maximum sentence of 80 years behind bars, prosecutors said.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 12.—AFP