In
Honduras Narco
Case of JOH US
Describes Timing
of Witness 1
Disclosure and
MLATs
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
SDNY EXCLUSIVE,
Feb 9 – 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
Feburary 9, the US filed about
"30 pages of MLAT returns
received from the Honduran
government on February 5,
2024, containing line sheets
for the four wiretap calls
referenced in its January 19,
2024 letter [and] 27 files
relating to a witness
(“Witness-1”) for whom,
consistent with the Court’s
prior ex parte order, the
Government received permission
for delayed disclosure of
Section 3500 materials" - 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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