Brien Taylor Sentenced to 38 Months in Prison

Former New York Yankees pitching prospect Brien Taylor was sentenced to 38 months in prison today after pleading guilty to distributing crack cocaine.

Taylor, 40, told U.S. District Court Judge Louise W. Flanagan during his sentencing that he was sorry for causing so much pain to his family and his five daughters.

''I made poor decisions,'' he said.

His mother, Betty Taylor, and sisters and friends were in the courtroom for the hearing. They, along with Halerie Mahan, Taylor's attorney, declined to comment.

Flanagan said Taylor had been forthright and warned him to be mindful of his conduct as well as whom he associates with when he is released from prison.

He'll face three years of supervised release after his prison term. No financial penalty. ''There will be no fine, since you have children to support,'' Flanagan said.

Taylor, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 draft, could've received between 5-40 years in prison.

He had been in custody since his March arrest for selling crack and powder cocaine to undercover agents with the Carteret County Sheriff's Office over several months.

In all, Taylor had distributed more than 200 grams of crack cocaine and about 100 grams of powder cocaine, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

A federal grand jury indicted Taylor in June.