Juan Orlando Hernández

Juan Orlando Hernández, President of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was convicted in March 2024 by a U.S. federal jury of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and weapons-related offenses. Prosecutors proved he facilitated the movement of over 400 tons of cocaine, accepted millions in bribes from drug traffickers including Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, and used police and military forces to protect drug shipments. He was sentenced in June 2024 to 45 years in prison and fined $8 million. On December 1, 2025, he was released following a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Prior to these drug-related charges, Hernández faced significant allegations of corruption. During his tenure as head of Congress, the Departmental Development Fund, overseen by his sister, reportedly misappropriated approximately $360 million. He was also implicated in a scandal involving fraudulent contracts with the Honduran Social Security Institute (IHSS), for which he admitted his campaign received funds while denying personal knowledge of wrongdoing. His 2017 re-election was marked by controversy, including allegations of voter fraud and a Supreme Court ruling that overturned presidential term limits to allow his candidacy.