Former Denver Bronco Sentenced In Drug Ring Conspiracy

original story posted July 20, 2009

Former NFL player Travis Henry was sentences to three years in prison last Wednesday on charges of financing a drug ring that circulated cocaine between Colorado and Montana. Henry formerly played as a running back for the Denver Broncos.

His initial sentencing could have seen Henry behind bars for 10 years to life as well as having to forfeit $4 million in fines. The fine was waived by the judge because Henry would not be able to afford the proposed amount.

Last October Henry was arrested by federal drug agents and he pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to

traffic cocaine in April. His arrest was only a few months after being released from his contract by the Broncos.

He was caught up by a driver that moved cocaine for him from Denver to Billings who turned into an informant once he was arrested in September. With the help of the driver, a sting operation was set up that would capture him.

Henry was caught leaving an apartment in Denver with 6 kilograms of cocaine two weeks later.

According to Henry, he was going through problems such as maintaining child support payments during the time of his arrest. He is fathering close to nine children all from nine different women.

Along with the three year sentence, U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull gave Henry five years of probation and also advised that he devote 500 hours to drug treatment program. Compliance and completion of the drug rehabilitation could prove to be in Henry's favor as it could potentially shave a year off of his sentence. Harvey Steinberg, his attorney, added that good behavior could also see the former football player out in 16 months.

Cebull added that the former player's addiction to drugs has led to his downfall as it relates to his career and overall as he has now landed himself in court. Henry has been noted as only being a small player in the drug ring and through his dealings with a friend he was entangled in the conspiracy.

Henry was drafted to the NFL in 2001 and became a member of the Broncos in 2007. With a four-year $22.5 million contract on the line, Henry threw it all away in one season as allegations continued to rise about his usage of drugs and a feeling from others that he lacked commitment.