Brother of Honduran president convicted of drug conspiracy

Claudia Torrens and Larry Neumeister, Associated Press
Updated 2:06 pm CDT, Friday, October 18, 2019



Photo: Fernando Antonio, AP
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FILE - In this March 16, 2017, file photo, Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernandez, brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, arrives for a press conference in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Tony Hernandez was convicted in a massive drug conspiracy case on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in U.S. federal court in New York City.


NEW YORK (AP) — The brother of the Honduran president was convicted Friday in a massive drug conspiracy case in New York City after prosecutors said he relied on "state sponsored drug trafficking" enabled by the Central American leader.

Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernández, 41, a former Honduran congressman, was stoic as the verdict was announced by a jury that deliberated over parts of two days. He was convicted of drug conspiracy, weapons charges and lying to the Drug Enforcement Administration. His attorney promised to appeal.

The two-week trial put a spotlight on the lucrative drug trade between the United States and Honduras, where thousands of migrants have fled toward the U.S. border with Mexico.

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U.S. prosecutors say the drug conspiracy was protected by the Honduran government. The trial featured testimony that convicted Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman aided the conspiracy by giving $1 million in bribes to Tony Hernández to pass along to his brother.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Brother-of-Honduran-president-convicted-in-drug-14544790.php