Honduran Former President Faces Trial in New York Federal Court

On April 22, 2022, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) made his appearance at his first virtual court hearing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.  He is being charged with three counts: 1) conspiring to import cocaine into the United States which carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison; 2) using and carrying machine guns and destructive devices during, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine importation conspiracy, which carries a sentence of 30 years to life in prison; and 3) conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices during, and to possess machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine importation conspiracy, which carries a maximum life sentence.  If former President Hernandez is convicted, sentencing will ultimately be determined by a U.S. district court judge considering U.S. Sentencing guidelines and other factors.[1]