ESPN: Jamal Lewis sentenced to 4 months in prison after offseason

Must be nice to earn your money and then go to prison....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1897106

ATLANTA -- Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will be sentenced to four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway house after pleading guilty Thursday to a lesser charge in a federal drug conspiracy case.


Under the deal with prosecutors, Lewis would serve his sentence during the NFL offseason. But he could be suspended by the league.


"We will review the court documents from today's proceedings and announce a decision on league discipline as soon as possible, perhaps as early as [Friday]," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.


Even if Lewis is suspended by the league, he has five days to appeal, so he's likely to play in Sunday night's game against Washington.


Lewis pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to violate federal law by trying to set up a drug transaction more than four years ago. Under the plea agreement -- which includes 500 hours of community service -- drug conspiracy and attempted cocaine possession charges are expected to be dropped.


His trial had been scheduled to start Nov. 1. No immediate sentencing date was set.


"Jamal made a mistake when he was 20, over four years ago," Ravens president Dick Cass said. "He admitted today that he introduced two individuals for the purpose of facilitating a drug transaction. Contrary to some media reports, Jamal did not -- and did not attempt to -- buy, sell or possess drugs. He had no financial stake in any drug transaction.


"We will continue to support and believe in him. He has admitted his mistake and is prepared to move on. We are prepared to move on with him.


"We understand that Jamal is also subject to discipline by the NFL. We know that the commissioner will look thoroughly at all the circumstances surrounding Jamal's admission. We will accept whatever the commissioner decides."


Lewis was accused of helping broker a cocaine deal for co-defendant Angelo Jackson, a childhood friend, during conversations with a government informant in Atlanta during the summer of 2000. Charges against Jackson are still pending.


The FBI has said an informant contacted Lewis on his cell phone on June 23, 2000, 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.


According to Lewis' plea deal, he agreed to testify at Jackson's trial if called as a witness.


Lewis ran for 2,066 yards last season, the second-highest total in NFL history.