Juan Antonio Hernández Alvarado, known as Tony Hernández (born June 13, 1978),[1] is a Honduran convicted drug trafficker,[2] lawyer, politician, member of the National Party of Honduras[3] and former deputy in the National Congress of Honduras (2014–2018)[4] representing Lempira.[5] He is the brother of Juan Orlando Hernández, the former President of Honduras. On November 23, 2018, Juan Antonio Hernández was arrested in Miami on drug trafficking charges.[6] On November 26, 2018, he was formally charged in a federal court with importing tons of cocaine into the United States between 2004 and 2016,[7] as well as on weapons charges.[8]

Tony Hernández
Member of the National Congress of Honduras
In office
25 January 2014 – 23 November 2018
PresidentMauricio Oliva
ConstituencyLempira Department
Personal details
Born (1978-06-13) 13 June 1978 (age 46)
Lempira department, Honduras
Political partyNational Party of Honduras
Children3
Alma materNational Autonomous University of Honduras
Occupationpolitician, drug trafficker

On October 18, 2019, he was found guilty of drug trafficking charges.[9] Hernández used the millions of dollars he earned through the drug trade and bribes to help fund the National Party of Honduras, led by his brother.[10] This included a million-dollar bribe from former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Despite his brother pledging to cooperate with US counter-narcotic operations in return for economic aid to Honduras, Hernández was also found to have alerted drug traffickers about US-led night raids. Hernández was accused of ordering the assassinations of multiple people, including former business partner Nery López Sanabria after he was convicted. In addition, he also arranged the murders of López Sanabria's lawyer as well as the warden of the prison that housed López Sanabria.

On March 30, 2021, Tony Hernández was sentenced to life in prison by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.[11] His brother, the former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was also convicted March 8 2024 in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States.[12]

Family life

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His parents are Juan Hernández Villanueva and Elvira Alvarado Castillo. He is married to Miriam Vanessa Cruz Sierra. He has 16 siblings, including Juan Orlando Hernández and Hilda Hernández[13] (1966–2017).[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Quién es Tony Hernández, el hermano del presidente hondureño Juan Orlando". El Heraldo. (November 23, 2018). Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  2. ^ "Honduran President’s Brother Is Found Guilty of Drug Trafficking". New York Times. (October 18, 2019). Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  3. ^ Bonello, Deborah (December 4, 2018). "How Cocaine-Fueled Corruption Helped Spark the Migrant Caravan". Vice.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  4. ^ "Rechazan moción presentada por defensa de Tony Hernández". La Prensa. (June 28, 2019). Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  5. ^ "EEUU investigaba a Tony Hernández desde 2004". La Prensa. (November 27, 2018).
  6. ^ "Honduran president's brother arrested in Miami on drug charges". Reuters. (November 24, 2018). Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  7. ^ "Los 21 puntos de la acusación contra el hermano del presidente de Honduras". La Prensa. (November 26, 2018). Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  8. ^ "Honduran president's brother faces drug trafficking charges in U.S." Washington Times. (November 26, 2018). Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  9. ^ "Brother of Honduran president found guilty in U.S. drug trial". Reuters. (October 18, 2019). Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  10. ^ Jon Lee Anderson (2021-11-08). "Is the President of Honduras a Narco-Trafficker?". The New Yorker.
  11. ^ Córdoba, José de (2021-03-30). "Brother of Honduras President Sentenced to Life in Drug-Trafficking Case". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  12. ^ New York AP
  13. ^ "Hilda Hernández dice "adiós" a su cargo en el gobierno". El Heraldo. (January 2, 2017).
  14. ^ "Muere Hilda Hernández, hermana del presidente de Honduras". Laprensa.hn. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
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