by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
SDNY EXCLUSIVE, July 25 – 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.
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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
Four months later on June 6 Bonilla's new lawyer asked for a 45 day delay in sentencing.
On July 19 Bonilla's lawyer asked for a 10 year sentence, citing ill health. The sentencing is scheduled for August 1.
He put in letters by lawyer Ilsi Johana Ventura Escobar, Elmer Cohen and others
On July 25 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that it "respectfully submits that a 30-year sentence (below the applicable Guidelines sentence of life imprisonment, which is also the sentence recommended by the Probation Office) is warranted."
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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