Supporters of the ruling Libertad y Refundacion party (LIBRE) celebrate in Tegucigalpa on March 8, 2024, after former Honduran President (2014-2022) Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted of drug trafficking by a New York jury, in the United States.

WORLD

Former President of Honduras convicted, facing life imprisonment

The former President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, has been found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and of two weapons offences, and now faces the prospect of life imprisonment.

By James Blears

The trial in a Manhattan Federal Court building, took two weeks.

The former President Juan Orlando Hernandez aged 55, denied all the charges, claiming he has been the victim of a vendetta by drug cartels and a conspiracy by political enemies.

Listen to James Blears' report:

During the trial, several convicted drug traffickers testified he had paid them bribes.

His Attorney has already confirmed that the conviction will be appealed.

Sentencing will be on June 26. The minimum would be forty years. The maximum would be the rest of his life behind bars.

During his time as President, Hernandez received millions from Washington to help him combat the drug cartels.

While the drug cartels paid him millions protection money to stave off the military and police, so organized crime could seep tons of cocaine into the United States.

He was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa three months after leaving office in 2022, and was extradited to the United States in April of that year.

His younger brother Juan Antonio, once a Honduran Congressman was convicted of drugs charges in 2021 and he is serving a life sentence.

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