Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, known as JOH, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison along with five years of supervised release.
His charges include importing cocaine and related weapons offenses.
Hernández’s term in office ended just before his extradition to the United States in April 2022.
After a three-week jury trial, he was convicted on March 8.
Abuse of Power and Drug Trafficking
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that Hernández exploited his presidential power to back a massive and violent drug trafficking conspiracy, affecting both Honduras and the United States.
Garland highlighted the dedication of the Justice Department’s agents and prosecutors in ensuring Hernández’s conviction.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram also noted that Hernández used drug trafficking profits to finance his political career and abused his authority to facilitate the transport of hundreds of tons of cocaine to the U.S.
She reiterated the DEA’s commitment to holding political figures accountable for their involvement in drug trafficking.
Facilitating Drug Importation on a Massive Scale
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York stated that Hernández, who served two terms as president, had the opportunity to make positive changes for Honduras.
Instead, he facilitated the importation of an astounding 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.
This resulted in billions of doses being sent to the United States, protected by Hernández’s influence and support.
Williams affirmed that Hernández would now serve 45 years in federal prison for his actions.
A Long History of Corruption and Violence
Court documents reveal that from around 2004 to 2022, Hernández was deeply involved in one of the world’s largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies.
He abused his positions of power to import over 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.
His co-conspirators were armed with machine guns, including AK-47s and AR-15s, and used these weapons to protect their cocaine shipments and drug-trafficking territory.
Hernández received millions of dollars in bribes from major drug-trafficking organizations, which he used to fuel his political rise.
In return, he provided increased support and protection for these organizations, enabling them to move large quantities of cocaine and commit acts of violence and murder.
Publicly Opposing, Privately Supporting Drug Trafficking
While in office, Hernández publicly supported anti-narcotics measures but secretly protected and enriched drug traffickers within his circle.
He manipulated extradition policies, extraditing only those traffickers who threatened his power while promising safety to those who bribed him.
Hernández and his co-conspirators misused Honduran institutions, including the National Police and military, to safeguard their drug-trafficking operations.
The conspiracy’s members used heavily armed police officers to protect their cocaine shipments and resorted to violence and murder to maintain their grip on the drug trade.
Co-Conspirators Also Convicted
Several of Hernández’s co-conspirators have also faced convictions and sentences.
His brother, Tony Hernández, was sentenced to life in prison in 2019, and Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez received a life sentence in 2021.
Other key figures, such as former police chief Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares and Hernández’s cousin Mauricio Hernández Pineda, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
A Landmark Case
In total, Hernández and his network trafficked over 400 tons of U.S.-bound cocaine during his time in government, equating to approximately 4.5 billion individual doses.
The DEA led the investigation, with significant assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, ensuring Hernández’s arrest and extradition.
The case was prosecuted by a dedicated team of attorneys from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the Southern District of New York.
This landmark case marks a significant victory in the fight against international drug trafficking and corruption, demonstrating that no one is above the law.
TDPel Media
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!Share this information:
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedInAdvertisement
