Henley Described as ‘Financier’ of Cocaine Ring

Fame and fortune.

Ram cornerback Darryl Henley used both in his role as an alleged “financier” of a cocaine trafficking ring stretching from his Brea home to Memphis and Atlanta, a prosecutor charged Thursday.

Assistant U.S. Atty. John Rayburn, summarizing weeks of testimony and evidence against Henley and four other men on trial in federal court, told jurors the only possible verdict is guilty.

He pointed to phone records between Henley and the other defendants that provide what he called a “diary of crime.” He talked about Henley using his fame to charm former Rams cheerleader Tracy Donaho into carrying suitcases of cocaine across country, and the testimony of several witnesses who named the 28-year-old football player as the one who promised payments for the drugs should something happen to the shipments.

“He was the one who could guarantee the money because he was famous and had lots of money,” Rayburn told jurors, at one point calling Henley an “accomplished liar.”

But defense attorneys who started their closing arguments Thursday said the government failed to prove there was a drug conspiracy, and is basing its case on what one described as a “paper chase” that turned “paper thin.” Henley’s attorneys--who have contended the standout defensive player is being framed by the cheerleader and her family and is only a friend of some of his co-defendants--are expected to continue their closing arguments today.

Henley has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison and $4 million in fines. Also on trial are Ralph Bustamante, who allegedly supplied the cocaine; Garey West, a Memphis man who allegedly sold the drugs; Willie McGowan, who allegedly helped pull the deals together; and Rex Henley, Darryl Henley’s uncle who allegedly wrapped the cocaine in the suitcases and helped get couriers to the airport.

Bustamante and two other men, in a separate case, are also charged with trying to extort $360,000 from Henley and his family to pay for the cocaine allegedly involved in the busted drug ring.

Donaho, who was arrested in July, 1993, carrying about 25 pounds of cocaine in a suitcase at an Atlanta airport, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport cocaine and testified on behalf of the government.

In closing arguments, Rayburn said Henley played a central role in the multi-kilogram cocaine shipments from his home in Brea to Atlanta and Memphis using Donaho, then 19, as a courier.

Donaho had testified that Darryl Henley, whom she had been dating for several months, paid her $1,000 to carry what she believed to be a suitcase of real estate cash to Memphis. She was arrested in Atlanta on her second trip, which she testified she made at the urging of Darryl Henley.

Rayburn scoffed at the charge that Donaho and her family dreamed up some “master conspiracy” to frame Darryl Henley. Rayburn said it was impossible that they could have gotten at least four other witnesses from across the country to lie on the stand about his alleged involvement.

Rayburn also stressed that telephone records through the spring, summer and fall of 1993 connect Darryl Henley to the other defendants, including 69 calls to McGowan, seven to West and three to Bustamante.

Defense attorneys have challenged the telephone records and said they contain gaps.