Quattrone to serve 18 months

NEW YORK -- Frank Quattrone, whose deal making made him an investment banking star during the Internet stock bubble and a multimillionaire, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for obstructing justice. The sentence makes Quattrone, 48, the most prominent Wall Street figure since junk-bond king Michael Milken to face time behind bars.

US District Judge Richard Owen ordered Quattrone to begin serving the time late next month -- a shorter window to get his affairs in order than even federal prosecutors had asked for.

Outside court, Quattrone looked into television cameras and, with a breaking voice, vowed to appeal.

''To my family in California, Dad's coming home soon," he said. ''I'm OK, and I love you. I can hold my head high right now because I know I'm innocent."

The sentence far exceeds the recommendation of federal probation officials, who had suggested the judge give the former investment banker five months in prison and five months of house arrest.

The judge also fined Quattrone $90,000 and said he would serve two years' probation after prison.