Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was sentenced to 45 years in a U.S. prison for aiding drug traffickers in ensuring over 400 tons of cocaine made it to the United States. The judge also fined Hernández $8 million and noted that the penalty should serve as a warning to those who believe their status insulates them from justice. Hernández proclaimed his innocence during his sentencing, citing that he was wrongly accused. He portrayed himself as a hero in the anti-drug trafficking movement, but the judge stated that evidence showed otherwise.
Hernández’s sentencing followed a two-week trial in Manhattan federal court, where a jury convicted him in March. Despite claiming his innocence, the judge described Hernández as a “two-faced politician hungry for power” who protected a select group of traffickers. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence plus 30 years, but Hernández was ultimately sentenced to 45 years in prison. U.S. prosecutors allege that Hernández worked with drug traffickers as far back as 2004, accepting millions of dollars in bribes as he climbed the political ladder in Honduras.
After being arrested three months after leaving office in 2022, Hernández was extradited to the U.S. in April of the same year. He was a two-term leader of Honduras and maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming that he was not allowed to present evidence that could have proven his innocence. In Honduras, U.S. Ambassador Laura Dogu called the sentencing an important step toward combating the social consequences of drug trafficking. Meanwhile, Hernández’s wife, Ana García, asserted his innocence and labeled the sentencing as a “judicial lynching,” preparing for an appeal.
Witnesses in Hernández’s trial included traffickers who admitted to dozens of murders and identified him as an enthusiastic protector of powerful cocaine dealers like Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The judge noted that Guzmán had given a $1 million bribe to Hernández’s brother, who is currently serving a life sentence for drug charges in the U.S. Despite Hernández’s reputation as a political leader, the judge emphasized that nobody is above the law, including former presidents of countries like Honduras. Hernández’s sentencing follows a pattern of convictions for high-profile individuals involved in illegal activities.
As the sentencing was announced in a federal courthouse located near where former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced for charges of falsifying business records, Hernández stood next to his lawyer as the judge detailed the evidence presented at trial. Castel spoke at length about the fair trial proceedings and highlighted the staggering number of deaths linked to the drug trade. He emphasized Hernández’s involvement in aiding traffickers for his political survival, instead of assisting them all the time. Despite Hernández’s claims of being persecuted by politicians and drug traffickers, the judge emphasized that he was guilty of aiding the drug trade.
