
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 28, 1990                   TAG: 9006280793
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FAIRFAX                                LENGTH: Short

COOKE'S WIFE AIDS DRUG PROBE

A bad-check charge against the wife of Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke has been dropped after she allegedly cooperated in several cases involving major drug dealers.

Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Robert F. Horan Jr. said Assistant U.S. Attorney Liam O'Grady asked him to be lenient with Marlene L. Ramallo Chalmers. Horan dropped the grand larceny charges pending against Cooke's fourth wife.

"They [federal officials] were interested in us giving her a break because she testified and provided information in a number of major drug cases," Horan said. "Restitution had been made and we agreed to drop the charges. Anytime someone will give you a major drug distributor, that's important."

In 1986, Chalmers, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import less than a kilogram of cocaine, according to court records. Chalmers married Cooke, 77, on May 5 at his Middleburg estate.

She could not be reached for comment.

Chalmers was arrested April 7, 1988, on a felony charge of writing four bad checks to the Cosmetic Center. The checks totalled $285.78. In Virginia, any bad check over $200 is a felony.

According to court records, Chalmers, a native of Bolivia, became involved in a drug smuggling scheme that involved couriers transporting cocaine from La Paz, Bolivia to Rio de Janeiro to the United States.

Chalmers allegedly provided a cover by buying tickets and providing expense money for couriers.

by CNB