Defendant in Cocaine Trial Tells of Threat to Son : Courts: Man says fellow suspect warned him to not tell authorities about others’ roles in drug deal. Rams player Darryl Henley is among six charged in narcotics-trafficking case.

A government witness testified Friday that he has ignored threats to himself and his family to tell the truth about the role of Rams cornerback Darryl Henley and four other defendants in an alleged drug conspiracy ring.

Alejandro Figueroa Cuevas, 31, said that after the arrests of alleged ring members in the fall and winter of 1993, co-defendant Ralph Bustamante threatened to hurt his infant son if he “ratted anyone out.”

“He asked me how my son was doing--if he was walking yet,” Cuevas said. “I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘If you want him to walk, you better work with me.’ ”

The testimony in the 5-week-old federal drug conspiracy trial came as prosecutors sought to shore up Cuevas’ credibility against attacks by defense attorneys. Cuevas has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion in the case and has agreed to testify against Henley and four others in exchange for a chance at a reduced sentence. He faces a maximum 20-year sentence.

Henley’s attorneys contend that Cuevas has been making up damaging evidence against Henley, Bustamante and others to cut a better deal for himself with prosecutors.

Henley’s defense attorney Gerald L. Chaleff said Cuevas was “trying to make a deal. He’s trying to blame everyone for everything.”

But prosecutors pointed out that Cuevas has not received any guarantee from the government for lenient treatment, and that he has cooperated with authorities despite fears for his and his family’s safety.

Henley, considered one of the Rams best defensive players, is facing federal charges of cocaine possession and conspiring to operate an illicit drug network from his home in Brea.

Prosecutors say Henley, 30, masterminded a cocaine-trafficking ring that extended from California to Georgia until federal drug enforcement agents stopped his alleged courier, a former Rams cheerleader, at an Atlanta airport on July 15, 1993. Agents confiscated the suitcase she was carrying that held 25 pounds of cocaine.

Henley, who remains free on $200,000 bail, and the rest of the co-defendants in the case have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Cuevas testified Friday that Bustamante admitted to him that he was the main source for cocaine in the drug conspiracy and offered to pay him $20,000 to keep quiet about Bustamante’s role.

He testified earlier in the week that Henley told him after the drug arrest in Atlanta that he needed more time to pay a $360,000 debt to Bustamante from the failed deal because his “connection had gotten busted” and he was being watched by the “Feds.”

Cuevas also admitted to calling Henley’s father to demand the payment and threatening Darryl Henley’s life. He testified Friday that he did so under orders from Bustamante.

But Chaleff challenged Cuevas’ efforts to portray himself as a pawn in the alleged attempts to extort money from Henley.

“All you were was a mouthpiece?” Chaleff asked skeptically.

“Yes,” Cuevas said. “I’m guilty of going along with it.”

Cuevas also testified Friday that shortly after the alleged threats to his son, which occurred while both he and Bustamante were being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, he was attacked and stabbed by two inmates.

Prosecutors allege that the attack was set up by Bustamante to silence Cuevas. Cuevas is scheduled to continue his testimony on Tuesday.