Sunday, February 11, 2024

In Honduras Narco Case of JOH US Wants 2 Days After Jury Selection for SCIF Sessions


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack

SDNY EXCLUSIVE, Feb 10 – 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

On February 7, JOH's new lawyer again asked for a delay: "I simply need more time" - full letter on Patreon here.

On February 8, Judge Castel denied JOH's request for a written jury questionnaire but concluded "the Court will require the government to furnish a letter describing the productions referenced in the second sentence of Mr. Stabile’s letter of February 7, 2024 by 2 p.m. on February 9, 2024 and, if appropriate, will issue a further Order" - full order on Patreon here.

At 1:55 pm on February 9, the US filed about "30 pages of MLAT returns received from the Honduran government" full letter on Patreon here.

At noon on Saturday, February 10, the US wrote in that "the Government anticipates that following jury selection, an interval of approximately two days will be required. Such a period would allow the completion of the process agreed-upon by the parties" - full letter on Patreon here

  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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