by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
SDNY EXCLUSIVE, Feb 26 – 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 February 26, 2024, after Reynoso and DEA agent Jennifer Taul, drug trafficker Luis Perez took the stand, some:
Judge Castel is telling audience to be quiet
Judge: If we cannot have this number of spectators without it interfering with the jurors hearing, I'll have to close some of the rows in the gallery.. Next witness is Luis Perez.
AUSA Tarlow: Where are you from? Luis Perez: From Colombia. But I have lived elsewhere, including Honduras. I trafficked in cocaine. AUSA: How did you transport it? Perez: In planes, helicopters, go-fast boats
AUSA: How much through Honduras? Perez: 200,000 kilos AUSA Tarlow: How much money to you make? Luis Perez: $50 million.
AUSA: Did you contribute some of this to JOH's campaign?
Perez: Yes, in 2013. I gave $2,400,000.
AUSA: Were you a member of an organization? Perez: Yes. The Sinaloa cartel. I worked for El Chapo AUSA Tarlow: Were you charged with crimes in the US? Luis Perez: Yes. I surrendered to the US authorities in Belize in May 2015.
AUSA: Did you plead guilty? Perez: Yes. AUSA Tarlow: Were you sentenced? Luis Perez: Yes, in 2015 - then the government filed a motion to reduce my sentence based on my cooperation. It was reduced to 75 months. AUSA: Have you served it? Perez:
Yes. AUSA: Who did you pay, for JOH's campaign? Perez: To Mario, the 2d highest official in Porto Cortez, Honduras. AUSA: How were you using the Port, before meeting Mario? Perez: Containers from Colombia.
AUSA: How much? Perez: 10,000 kilos. AUSA Tarlow: Who presented you to Mario? Luis Perez: Fabio Lobo, son of the former president. And Fredy Najara.
AUSA: Did you discuss the Honduras presidential election with Mario? Perez: Yes. Mid 2013. Mario wrote to us seeking financial help for JOH's campaign
AUSA Tarlow: How much did Mario request for JOH's campaign? Luis Perez: $1 million. AUSA: Did you provide it? Perez: Yes. In two payments of $500,000 each. AUSA Tarlow: Who gave the money? Luis Perez: Arnulfo Valle, El Loco...
AUSA: Who passed along thanks?
Perez: Mario told me JOH said thanks for the contribution AUSA: Did you discuss the Honduran president election with Arnulfo Valle? Luis Perez: Yes... Arnulfo met with Tony Hernandez in Copan and arrived at agreements, he told me that the million dollars had been given, and got thanks
More details on X for subscribers here and Substack here
The case is US v. Diaz Morales, et al., 15-cr-379 (Castel)
***
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
