OXFORD, Miss. - John Daly's wife and her parents pleaded guilty Monday to federal money laundering charges.
Sherrie Miller Daly, who married the two-time major champion in 2001, and her parents, Alvis and Billie Miller, entered into an agreement late Friday with U.S. Attorney Paul Roberts to plead guilty before the start of their trial.
The three were charged in a July 28 federal indictment alleging they were part of a larger conspiracy to buy and sell cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, and paid for them with cash from previous drug sales.
Prosecutors said earlier the golfer didn't know about his wife's alleged drug activities, which took place between 1996 and 2002.
Alvis Miller will serve up to two years in prison. He claimed he did not know the money was coming from illegal drug profits. Sherrie Daly and Billie Miller were offered five years' probation with six months of home detention. They could have faced five years in prison.
Daly, in Augusta, Ga., for the Masters, said he strongly suggested that his wife accept a plea bargain.
"You don't beat a federal court, a federal judge and the FBI. There's no way," Daly said. "I told Sherrie, "You've got to look after what's ahead of you. If there's probation, house arrest, you've got to take that. I know you're not a convict. I know you're not guilty of anything. But you're not going to win."'
SAILING: Fossett sets record
Steve Fossett set the record for sailing around the world Monday, nearly six days faster than the mark set in 2002 by Frenchman Bruno Peyron. The 59-year-old millionaire and his crew of 12 crossed the finish line near France's Brittany coast aboard their 125-foot catamaran in 58 days, 9 hours, 32 minutes, 45 seconds. The World Sailing Speed Record Council said the 21,600-nautical-mile journey still needs to be confirmed. Fossett became the first to fly a hot air balloon solo around the world in 2002, after nearly dying twice in six attempts.
OLYMPICS: Doping warning issued
Doping authorities served notice that athletes at the Athens Olympics will be subject to drug tests for human growth hormone - a substance prohibited by the International Olympic Committee for which no test has been validated. Dr. Larry Bowers, senior managing director of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, said blood samples would be collected and stored until a valid test could be implemented. The IOC plans more than 3,000 drug tests during the Aug. 13-29 Games. Seventy-eight scientists and lab directors from 19 nations met for two days at Grapevine, Texas, to discuss abuses of hGH in sports. The hormone is produced naturally by the body. The synthetic form works like an anabolic steroid and can help athletes build muscle mass and recover faster from training.
MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION: Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni said those planning a trip to the Olympics should not be deterred by fears of a terrorist attack because it would hand extremists an easy victory. Bakoyianni, whose first husband was killed by Greek terrorists, said all necessary steps have been taken to avoid an attack. "I have personal experience and I believe if you give up and allow terrorists to change your life, then they have won without even having done something," Bakoyianni said. She said it was her belief the Games had to send a "moral message" to the rest of the world.
HOCKEY: U.S. women in final
The United States advanced to the final of the women's world championship at Halifax, Nova Scotia, with Natalie Darwitz scoring three goals in a 9-2 victory over Sweden. The Americans face Canada for the eighth time in the gold-medal game tonight. They beat Canada 3-1 on Saturday, Canada's only loss in tournament history. Krissy Wendell, Jenny Potter, Kathleen Kauth, Angela Ruggiero, Andrea Kilbourne and Katie King also scored for the Americans.
ET CETERA
HORSES: Jockey Jose Santos and trainer Nick Zito were among 13 jockeys, trainers and horses nominated for the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. The others are jockeys Kent Desormeaux, Eddie Maple and Randy Romero; trainers Shug McGaughey and John Veitch, and horses Skip Away, Lure, Manila, Flawlessly, Mom's Command and Sky Beauty.
SOCCER: Ratings for ABC's opening telecast of the Major League Soccer season featuring 14-year-old Freddy Adu were up 64 percent from last year's first game. D.C. United's 2-1 win over the defending champion San Jose Earthquakes was watched in 1.8 percent of U.S. households with televisions in the top 55 media markets.
