NEW YORK — Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was sentenced Wednesday in New York for his conviction on charges that he enabled drug traffickers to use his military and national police force to help get tons of cocaine into the United States.
Judge P. Kevin Castel sentenced Hernández to 45 years in a U.S. prison and fined him $8 million. A jury convicted him in March in Manhattan federal court after a two-week trial, which was closely followed in his home country.
“I am innocent,” Hernández said at his sentencing. “I was wrongly and unjustly accused.”
Castel called Hernández a “two-faced politician hungry for power” who protected a select group of traffickers.
Hernández was in a full green prison uniform as he stood in court with his lawyers. Two U.S. marshals stood behind him.
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of life in prison, plus 30 years.
Hernández, 55, served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people.
Hernández was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. in April of that year.
U.S. prosecutors say Hernández worked with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, taking millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the country’s highest office.
Hernández acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself.
Hernández insisted in a lengthy statement made through an interpreter that his trial was unjust because he was not allowed to include evidence that would have caused the jury to find him not guilty. He said he was being persecuted by politicians and drug traffickers.
“It’s as if I had been thrown into a deep river with my hands bound,” he said.
Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernández was an enthusiastic protector of some of the world’s most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is serving a life prison term in the U.S.
His brother, Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernández, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in a U.S. prison in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges.
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in facilitating cocaine trafficking into the United States. Hernandez, who served as president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was found guilty of accepting bribes from drug traffickers in exchange for protection and assistance in smuggling drugs into the United States.
The case against Hernandez was built on evidence gathered by U.S. authorities, including wiretaps and witness testimony from drug traffickers who cooperated with the government in exchange for reduced sentences. The evidence showed that Hernandez had close ties to some of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in Honduras and had personally profited from their illegal activities.
Hernandez’s conviction is a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking in Central America, where corrupt politicians and law enforcement officials have long been accused of turning a blind eye to the activities of powerful drug cartels. The case also highlights the close relationship between drug trafficking and political corruption, as well as the challenges faced by countries like Honduras in combating organized crime.
The sentencing of Hernandez sends a strong message that no one is above the law, no matter how powerful or well-connected they may be. It also serves as a warning to other politicians and officials who may be tempted to engage in corrupt activities or turn a blind eye to criminal behavior. By holding Hernandez accountable for his actions, the U.S. government is sending a clear signal that it will not tolerate corruption or complicity in drug trafficking.
The case against Hernandez also underscores the importance of international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking. The United States worked closely with Honduran authorities to gather evidence and build a case against Hernandez, demonstrating the need for countries to work together to combat transnational criminal organizations.
Overall, the sentencing of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez is a significant milestone in the fight against drug trafficking and corruption in Central America. It serves as a reminder that no one is above the law and that those who engage in criminal activities will be held accountable for their actions.
