Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández Sentenced to Federal Jail
NEW YORK — Former Honduran president and U.S. ally Juan Orlando Hernández was sentenced by a U.S. choose on Wednesday to 45 years in a federal jail and an $8 million fantastic for operating a “narco-state” that helped ship South American cocaine to the US.
Bribery and Cocaine Trafficking Expenses
Hernández, 55, who was convicted of federal drug and weapons expenses in March, constructed his political profession on tens of millions of {dollars} in bribes from traffickers in Honduras and Mexico, U.S. prosecutors stated. Throughout his two phrases as president from 2014 to 2022, they stated, he helped transfer no less than 400 tons of cocaine to the US whereas defending traffickers from extradition and prosecution.
U.S. District Choose Kevin Castel spoke of the breadth of the trafficking conspiracy earlier than he handed down the sentence.
The 400 tons of cocaine despatched to the US was value “properly over $10 billion” on the road, Castel stated, and two individuals who cooperated towards Hernández admitted to greater than 130 murders. Whereas Hernández posed as a “champion” towards narco-trafficking, the choose stated, he was facilitating violence, illness, and habit.
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of life in jail plus 30 years.
“Juan Orlando Hernández abused his energy because the president of Honduras to ship incomprehensible quantities of cocaine to the US,” prosecutor Jacob Gutwillig stated. “He was polluting this nation with incomprehensible quantities of poison.”
Denials of Wrongdoing
Hernández has denied any wrongdoing. He has accused jailed drug sellers of giving false testimony towards him in trade for decreased sentences. He’s anticipated to enchantment his conviction.
“Your honor, I reiterate that I’m harmless, that I used to be wrongly accused and convicted,” Hernandez advised Castel on Wednesday. Castel warned Hernández repeatedly to stay to the topic — his sentence — and to not attempt to re-litigate his case.
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