Ex-Honduras President Hernández Sentenced in Drug Case

TL/DR –

Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández has been sentenced to 45 years in federal prison and fined $8 million by a U.S. judge for running a “narco-state” that facilitated the transfer of South American cocaine to the United States. Hernández, who served as president from 2014 to 2022, built his career on bribes from traffickers and helped to move at least 400 tons of cocaine to the U.S., while protecting traffickers from extradition. His prosecution has raised questions about whether the U.S. government overlooked his criminal activities while seeking his help in managing migration toward the southwest border.

Ex-Honduran President Sentenced for Narcotics Trafficking

Ex-Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández received a 45-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison and an $8 million fine on Wednesday. The U.S. court found him guilty of running a “narco-state,” aiding the transport of South American cocaine to the U.S.

According to U.S. prosecutors, Hernández, 55, built his political career on bribes from traffickers in Honduras and Mexico. During his presidency from 2014 to 2022, he allegedly helped transport at least 400 tons of cocaine to the U.S., whilst shielding traffickers from prosecution. Hernández was convicted of federal drug and weapons charges in March.

U.S. District Court Judge Kevin Castel emphasized the scale of the trafficking conspiracy before announcing the sentence. The 400 tons of cocaine transported to the U.S. was worth over $10 billion, and two individuals who testified against Hernández admitted to over 130 murders.

“Juan Orlando Hernández abused his presidency to send large amounts of cocaine to the United States,” said prosecutor Jacob Gutwilleg. “He was polluting this country with dangerous substances.”

During Hernández’s presidency, the U.S. government portrayed him as a key ally against narcotrafficking and illegal immigration. In 2015, then-Vice President Joe Biden hosted him at the White House. However, the Justice Department was concurrently investigating him as part of a wider probe into drug trafficking allegations against the Honduran political elite.

Following his departure from office in January 2022, Honduran police arrested Hernández at the request of the U.S, and he faced federal charges in New York. His prosecution has raised questions about whether the U.S. government overlooked his criminal activities in their quest to stem migration toward the southwest border.

Despite these allegations, Hernández continues to deny any wrongdoing. He accuses jailed drug dealers of providing false testimony against him in exchange for reduced sentences. Hernandez’s lawyer had sought a 40-year sentence, the mandatory minimum.

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