4 Months for Jamal Lewis

[Ksyrup]

ATLANTA (AP) -- Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis was sentenced to four months in jail Wednesday for using a cell phone to try to set up a drug deal about 41/2 years ago.

The sentence issued in federal court was what Lewis expected under an agreement reached with prosecutors in October.

Lewis, who tried to set up the deal a few months after he was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft, also will spend two months in a halfway house and perform 500 hours of community service following his prison term.

Prosecutors agreed to drop more serious drug conspiracy and attempted cocaine possession charges.

"I'm truly sorry for what I did," Lewis said to U.S. District Judge Orinda Evans.

Explaining the short sentence, the judge said the government didn't have a strong case and noted the only witness against Lewis was an informant with a lengthy criminal record.

Evans said she was also giving Lewis "credit for stepping up to the bar" and admitting his guilt.

Lewis will have a few days before beginning his sentence so a cast can be removed from his right ankle, the judge said. Lewis recently had foot surgery.

Lewis was suspended for two games by the NFL after his guilty plea; the Ravens finished the season 9-7 and missed the playoffs.

Lewis, a former star at Tennessee, could have faced at least 10 years in prison if convicted of the conspiracy charge, but likely would have received a shorter sentence under federal guidelines. In 1997, he pleaded guilty to a shoplifting charge in suburban Atlanta, but officials agreed to wipe his record clean if he complied with his probation.

In the drug case, Lewis was accused of helping broker a cocaine deal for childhood friend Angelo Jackson during conversations with a government informant in Atlanta.

On June 23, 2000 -- Lewis had been drafted by the Ravens on April 15 -- the FBI said an informant contacted Lewis on his cell phone to discuss selling cocaine to Lewis and Jackson. The FBI said Lewis and Jackson later met the informant at an Atlanta restaurant. Both conversations were taped.

Jackson and the informant met several times more over the next several weeks, but Lewis was not part of any of those conversations, court papers say. No drugs ever exchanged hands.

Lewis signed a six-year, $35.3 million contract with the Ravens in July of that year. Three years later, he was chosen NFL offensive player of the year after rushing for 2,066 yards, the second highest total ever for a single season. Lewis wasn't indicted on the federal drug charges until February 2004; Prosecutors say they waited to protect an ongoing investigation.

Jackson has pleaded guilty to attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. He was expected to receive five years in prison at his sentencing later Wednesday.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[WSUCougar]

"I'm truly sorry for what I did," Lewis said to U.S. District Judge Orinda Evans.

Oh, well okay then. Never mind.

[B & B]

Well, if 'n thats the case, then I am just tellin you what you want to hear.



WELL, OK THEN.

[korme]

I don't think that's a cop out, I think it is more him accepting responsibility.

[Pyser]

he's gonna be in good shape this season...

[Ryno]

They've got a name for people like you H.I. That name is called "recidivism."
Repeat offender!
Not a pretty name, is it H.I.?

[Philliesfan980]

Will he go to the Federal Pen? Or a minimum security deal (no office space jokes please!)

[DaddyTorgo]

i don't even think he'll serve. if he does it'll be minimum security.

[Craptacular]

Hmm, Feb - May in jail, with June and July in a halfway house. How convenient for an NFL player: training camp starts at the end of July.

[B & B]

No, sir. that aint me no mo.

[duckman]

I wonder if he'll be the prison bitch?

[Lathum]

What a punisment, he'll hang around for 4 months and lift weights. I'm sure it will be a big change from his usual off-season.

One thing I was wondering though, how will the rehab on his ankle be conducted if he is in prison?

[Greyroofoo]

I live at a military base and we have prisoners with non-violent drug charges and embezzlement charges do most of the yard work (cutting grass, raking leaves, all the work nobody wants to do). All for 12 cents per hour. I wonder if he could be coming here.

Woot! Just read a yahoo article that says he's coming here!

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

I live at a military base and we have prisoners with non-violent drug charges and embezzlement charges do most of the yard work (cutting grass, raking leaves, all the work nobody wants to do). All for 12 cents per hour. I wonder if he could be coming here.

Woot! Just read a yahoo article that says he's coming here!

So uh how much for you to make sure he doesn't play football again?

[Greyroofoo]

Originally Posted by Bearcat729

So uh how much for you to make sure he doesn't play football again?

it would take lots of money, legal immunity, and a whole lot of alcohol to convince me*

*Note: The above content is a joke and is no indication of my thoughts

[Sharpieman]

But if he would have killed someone or beat his wife, he would have got off free.

[Greyroofoo]

Originally Posted by Sharpieman

But if he would have killed someone or beat his wife, he would have got off free.

As it is now, from what I hear being sentenced to Maxwell AFB is one of the better places you can go to if you're sent to prison.

[Ragone]

he'll go into prison a half back.. and leave a full back

[Draft Dodger]

I'm definitely not one to side with the athletes in these types of things...but 4 months in prison for getting his friend in touch with a drug dealer? 4 months for trying to set up a drug deal that never happened? That just seems crazy excessive to me.

[Ragone]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

I'm definitely not one to side with the athletes in these types of things...but 4 months in prison for getting his friend in touch with a drug dealer? 4 months for trying to set up a drug deal that never happened? That just seems crazy excessive to me.

You are right.. he should have gotten the whole 10 years