Guilty Plea in Cocaine Courier Case

A former Rams cheerleader has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle cocaine and is expected to cooperate with the federal drug prosecution of Rams cornerback Darryl Henley, officials said Tuesday.

Tracy Ann Donaho, 20, entered the plea Monday, but the plea agreement was later ordered sealed by U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Taylor, said Assistant U.S. Atty. John Rayburn, who declined to comment further.

Donaho has told authorities that she believed she was transporting large sums of cash, not narcotics, at Henley’s request. She was arrested in July at an Atlanta airport and charged with acting as a courier in a nationwide drug ring.

Donaho faces 10 years to life in prison and a possible $4-million fine when she is sentenced June 6, but the sentence could be lessened in exchange for testimony against Henley, who is on leave from the Rams.

Henley, 27, who has a home in Brea, has pleaded not guilty to possessing cocaine and conspiracy to operate a narcotics network.

The football player and the cheerleader are two of seven defendants recently indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a drug ring.

Defense attorney Stephan A. DeSales, who represents Donaho, declined to comment Tuesday.

Three of the five remaining defendants also are charged with threatening to kill Henley when he allegedly refused to return money from a drug deal.

A Feb. 1 trial date has been scheduled for Henley and the other defendants.