by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
SDNY EXCLUSIVE, Feb 16 – After the president of Honduras' brother Tony Hernandez was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to life plus thirty years, on April 21, 2022 the ex-president himself, Juan Orlando Hernandez, was extradited to the United States.
[Espanol aqui]
On December 19, 2023 as to co-defendant Tigre Bonilla, Judge Castel ruled: "ORDER as to Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares; The trial of this action has been long set for February 5, 2024. The Court does not anticipate moving that trial date or granting a severance."
It was moved to February 6. After Pineda plead guilty, on February 6 on no notice, and with Inner City Press the only media in the courtroom, Tigre Bonilla pled guilty. Thread
With nothing in the docket by the second 7 pm deadline, Inner City Press was reliably and multiply informed that the US had consented to adjourn to February 20 but not put it in the docket. Later it was.
Then Pineda was assigned a May 2 sentencing date, and JOH's cleared counsel put in a letter about belated restrictions being put on the use on information it's said JOH got while President of Honduras. Letter on Patreon here
On February 16, just before a sealed CIPA hearing, the US released a redacted 10 page February 14 order allowing JOH to testify "that he created a special unit in the Honduran [REDACTED] - and with Amilcar...San Antonio excluded. Order on Patreon here. But the trial?
More details on X for subscribers here and Substack here
The case is US v. Diaz Morales, et al., 15-cr-379 (Castel)
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