DAY SIX: Trial Against Honduran Drug Trafficker, Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez
/NOTE: Day 5 of the trial was suspended because of a health issue with a juror.
What Happened Today:
Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga (government witness and confessed drug trafficker) finished on the stand
Honduran historian Darío Euraque began to testify.
Key Details That Surfaced:
Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez (GFR) told Rivera Maradiaga in a US prison that he was going to cooperate with the DEA in order to secure his release because he [GFR] had photos and videos of President Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) receiving shipments of cocaine from Colombia at the San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa airports. According to GFR, JOH did this right in front of the DEA without the DEA knowing and JOH made fun of the DEA.
Rivera Maradiaga worked with several Honduran government officials including the current mayor of Tocoa, Adan Funes [key actor in the Guapinol mining conflict]; Oscar Nájera [current National Party Congressional representative]; Midence Orquelí Turcios [Former Liberal party Congressman in Colon]; ex-President Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo and his son, Fabio Lobo.
During drug shipments, the police and military “would protect me [Rivera Maradiaga] on behalf of [the current Minister of Security] Pacheco Tinoco.”
Former Honduran National Jurisdiction judge, Wendy Caballeros was Rivera Maradiaga’s girlfriend. Upon Caballero’s request, Rivera Maradiaga hired a hit man to kill one of Caballero’s rivals.
Rivera Maradiaga paid millions of dollars in bribes to several Honduran Presidents including Porfirio Lobo, JOH, and former President Manuel Zelaya.
What Will Happen Tomorrow:
Historian Darío Euraque will finish on the stand
Expected testimony from witness two (An accountant whose identity is protected on request from the prosecutors)
Photo: From the Pro-Honduras Network
More Details
Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga (Continued from Thursday/Day 4)
Drug Murders Around the Time Rivera Maradiaga Began Meeting with DEA
Various murders that Rivera Maradiaga had been involved in were discussed including the murders of:
“El Chino” [full name: Cristian Daniel Duron Hernandez, murdered inside the Támara prison in 2015 by law enforcement agents that drug trafficker Wilter Blanco recruited to have him murdered.]
“Mantequilla” in the department of Colon in 2010. The Martinez brothers were sent to kidnap him and bring him to Rivera Maradiaga
Moncho Cabezas (full name: Ramon Antonio Ponce Romero)
The defense focused their questioning on murders that occurred in October and November 2013, right before Rivera Maradiaga started to collaborate with the DEA. These murders included:
“Metro” [Melvin Sanders, Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez’s business partner]
Sonia Ramos – Rivera Maradiaga’s sister-in-law who was murdered in Canada. Rivera Maradiaga gave Ramo’s address to hitman Aldo Barrios, who hired another hit man to kill Ramos.
A “rival” to Rivera Maradiaga’s girlfriend, judge Wendy Caballero in San Pedro Sula - Rivera Maradiaga paid the hitman ‘Vaquero’ to murder the (female) rival. [Wendy Caballero was removed from her position as judge in a National Jurisdiction court when she released a drug trafficker, Alexander Montes Aguilar from prison. She spent approximately 4 years in prison. She also faced charges related to another non-drug trafficking related case in 2012]
Alex Barrios – After Rivera Maradiaga began meeting with the DEA, drug trafficker Ramon Matta (son) suggested that they work together. Matta started to complain that someone close to him was providing information about his properties to the Honduran government. The government was seizing his properties including that that he had hidden. Matta asked Rivera Maradiaga for help trying to find out who was providing the information to the authorities. Rivera Maradiaga contacted Liana Bueso [a Honduran lawyer for the Cachiros, former Government official in the Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry (SOPTRAVI), investor in several energy projects] who told him that there were rumors that Alex Barrios was providing the information to law enforcement. Barrios was killed shortly after. Rivera Maradiaga says he did not suspect Barrios would get killed because Matta’s properties had already been raided.
Nahúm Palacios (journalist, murdered in March 2010). Palacios’ girlfriend Yoleny Zanchez was also killed at the same time as Palacios but Rivera Maradiaga did not know this. She died during the attack against Palacios. Palacios was murdered because Congressman Midence Martinez Turcios asked Rivera Maradiaga to murder him. Rivera Maradiaga has not been charged in Honduras for the murder but admitted to it when he turned himself over to US authorities.
General Aristides Gonzalez (former head of the Office to Fight Drug Trafficking (DLCN) murdered in December 2009). Various drug traffickers were involved including Ramon Matta, Valles, Nectali Duarte Mejía, Fredy Nájera). Rivera Maradiaga and others have not been charged in Honduras.
Extradition & Cooperating with the DEA & US government officials
Before surrendering to the DEA, Rivera Maradiaga discussed and analyzed doing so with his lawyer, his brother Javier Rivera Maradiaga, his family, and his children. These discussions happened over various days.
He decided to cooperate with US authorities because he felt cornered by the US government.
Extradition was in place when OFAC (the US Office for Foreign Assets Control) had listed Rivera Maradiaga and his companies.
Rivera Maradiaga wasn’t worried about extradition because he paid former President Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo and Juan Orlando Hernandez for protection.
Before surrendering to the US, Rivera Maradiaga made audio recordings of meetings with Fredy Nájera [indicted by US authorities on drug trafficking-related charges], Oscar Nájera [current National Party Congressman], Yankel Rosenthal (who was part of JOH’s government and laundered money for drug traffickers), Los Valle Valle brothers [in prison in the US], Hector Emilio Hernandez, and Ramon Matta. He also recorded meetings with corrupt police officers.
Surrendered to the US government in January 2015. On occasions, Rivera Maradiaga gave airplane registration numbers and coordinates of locations where drug planes would land in Honduras to US authorities.
As part of his cooperation agreement, Rivera Maradiaga’s family members were allowed to come to the US. His wife, sons/daughters, his mother and father (now deceased) came to the US. A total of 5 family members.
Hiding Assets & OFAC Listing
Rivera Maradiaga made more than $50 million in profits from drug trafficking. He invested it in real estate, houses, cars, planes and jewelry, amongst other things.
He was given advance notice of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions and was able to pull out 100 million lempiras [~$4 million] beforehand.
He hid some of the money in secret compartments in cars. His family has access to the money and has used it to support his family while he has been in prison in the US. With this money, Rivera Maradiaga bought a car for the mother of his daughter and bought them a house. Rivera Maradiaga gave him mother $3000/monthly from drug money for approximately 4 years (from 2015 to 2019). Approximately $10,000 to his wife and another $7000 to the mother of another daughter. This all occurred while he was cooperating with the US government and the government has not asked for the money.
When Rivera Maradiaga surrendered, he had ~$6 million in cash; ~$1 million in jewelry; ~$20 million in real estate, hotels, and equipment. Some of the properties were in other people’s names so it wouldn’t be seized by the government. The government has not asked for the names of these individuals hiding Rivera Maradiaga’s assets.
Violations of Prison Policy
As part of his cooperation agreement, Rivera Maradiaga is not supposed to commit any crimes.
While in the MCC (Metropolitian Correctional Center, MCC, located right next to the Southern District Court), he got a hold of a contraband cell phone that was in the prison before he arrived there. He rented it for several hours and made phone calls to Edwin Palacios, who was managing his business affairs and helping Rivera Maradiaga’s family.
The government was told about the cell phone but did not cancel the cooperation agreement with Rivera Maradiaga. Rivera Maradiaga said that he informed the government of the calls he made using the phone.
Rivera Maradiaga was punished and put “in the box” (solitary confinement?) for 4 months.
Assistance from Politicians, Police and Military
Rivera Maradiaga’s cousin, police officer Orlin Maradiaga Lopez, and others helped lift check points on the road in order to move shipments of drugs.
Several military and police officials gave Rivera Maradiaga information about radars and helped him traffic drugs.
Oscar Nájera [current National Party Congress representative for the department of Colon] started working with Rivera Maradiaga in approximately 2006.
Juan Gomez [murdered, former National Party governor and ex-Congressional representative] helped Rivera Maradiaga obtain government contracts to build highways (as money laundering schemes).
Rivera Maradiaga worked with Adan Funes [current LIBRE party mayor of Tocoa, who plays a large role in the mining conflict relating to the imprisonment of 8 water defenders from Guapinol and San Pedro sector in Tocoa, Colon] starting in approximately 2003. He owns a bus company.
Started working with Midence Oquelí Martinez [indicted by US authorities and a former Congressional representative for the Liberal Party in department of Colon. Current location is unknown] in approximately 2003.
Bribes to and Working With Former President Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo and His Son, Fabio Lobo
Had a relationship with President Juan Orlando Hernandez and ex-President Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo
Rivera Maradiaga paid President Lobo a bribe of approximately $250,000 to $300,000 in exchange for protection (from getting arrested, having his property seized, and being extradited). Bribes were paid to Lobo before his election.
Rivera Maradiaga paid Lobo a second bribe and went to his house in “El Chimbo” [located 10 minutes outside of Tegucigalpa] to meet him.
Lobo told Rivera Maradiaga that he would be protected. Lobo told Rivera Maradiaga to call Juan Gomez [former Congressional representative] if he was worried and that Gomez would call the President’s son who would then call General Pacheco Tinoco [current Minister of Security] for him.
After this meeting, Rivera Maradiaga began working with Fabio Lobo. Fabio Lobo began accompanying him on drug shipments.
Fabio Lobo would “talk to police and military police” who were also with Rivera Maradiaga and who would “protect me on behalf of [Minister] Pacheco Tinoco.”
Fabio Lobo would help protect drug shipments. He would have 4 Toyota Prado vehicles and military and civilians accompany him while doing this.
If they came across a checkpoint, Fabio Lobo would ask the driver of the vehicle to put the sirens of the vehicle on. Every time they passed checkpoints, they used sirens to avoid being stopped.
During the Lobo government, Rivera Maradiaga would sometimes let Fabio Lobo know ahead of time that drug shipments would be received.
Bribes to President Juan Orlando Hernandez and former President Manuel Zelaya
In approximately 2012, Rivera Maradiaga paid approximately $250,000 as a bribe to Juan Orlando Hernandez through Oscar Nájera and Javier Rivera Maradiaga to Juan Orlando Hernandez’s sister, Hilda Hernandez.
The bribe was in exchange for protection, to help launder drug money, and to avoid extradition.
Rivera Maradiaga basically wanted to make the same deal with JOH that he had with President Lobo.
Paid the bribe before the elections and to other Presidential candidates.
Rivera Maradiaga paid $500,000 to President Manuel Zelaya who promised to put his cousin Midence Orquelí as Minister of Security. The appointment did not occur.
Conversation in Jail About JOH’s Drug Trafficking Activities
Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez (GFR) told Rivera Maradiaga in a US prison that he was going to cooperate with the DEA in order to secure his release because he [GFR] had photos and videos of President Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) receiving shipments of cocaine from Colombia in the San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa airports. GFR told Rivera Maradiaga that JOH said that he was doing this in front of the DEA but that the DEA didn’t realize it. GFR said that JOH made fun of the DEA.
Testimony of Honduran Historian Darío Euraque
Credentials, Employment, and Expertise
Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Lived in Honduras until 1967 then in New Orleans.
Professor of Latin American history at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut for 30 years. Holds a BA in history, a Masters and a PhD in Latin American history.
Focus is on Latin American and specifically Central American history.
Wrote his doctoral thesis on the economic history of northern Honduras and has published 6 books, approximately 50-60 academic journal articles, many of which are peer-reviewed.
Has testified approximately 55 times in asylum cases.
Is the Chair of the History Department and the International Studies program.
Has taught in Central America, Mexico, some parts of Europe and South America and the US.
In Honduras, he has taught at the national university
Has focused on modern Honduran history including the history of political systems, written books about race, ethnicity, and some on violence in Honduras.
Held a government position from 2006 to 2009 as the Director of the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History.
Appointed by the Minister of Culture at the time
He was responsible, by law, for overseeing museums, archeological sites around the country, historical monuments, etc.
His day-to-day responsibilities included traveling throughout the country to meet with regional director to make sure policy was followed by subordinates and to meet with mayors in different parts of the country particularly in municipalities where museums, archeology sites, etc. are located.
Left this position after the 2009 coup. He was asked to stay as the government wanted to reappoint him but he declined.
Not part of a political party
There was publicity surrounding him leaving the Institute including letters in support of his cultural policy work in Central America.
Expertise & Specific Questions About Honduras, Context, and People
Stays up to date by reviewing academic work, reading Honduran media and media coverage about Honduras in the US. Visits Honduras for conferences (pre-Covid) and is there approximately 4-6 times/year.
Two largest political parties in Honduras: Historically been the National and Liberal Parties. But since 2009, there is a third large party. These parties don’t really have platforms but individual candidates will talk about specific policies. Candidates don’t do debates like in the US.
President Term Limits: There was up until early 2015. Term limits existed because of Article 239 (from the 1982 Constitution). In late 2014, a number of Congressional representatives from the National Party presented a motion to the Constitutional Chamber of Honduras (5 judges) claiming that Article 239 was unconstitutional because it violated the Constitution right to run for re-election. The court accepted the argument
In 2017, JOH’s term was set to expire but the term limits were removed in 2015.
Extradition Treaty: The original 1912 extradition treaty was amended in 1928. It permitted extradition of Hondurans to the US.
The 1928 amendment prohibited extradition of Hondurans for political crimes or anything else.
In early 2012, the Honduran Congress amended the Constitution (of 1982) to include a clause referencing the 1928 amendment, which would then allow for Hondurans involved in drug trafficking to be extradited.
On January 18, 2012, Porfirio Lobo and State Department officials met in Miami. The day after that meeting, Lobo with support from JOH, the President of Congress convened Congress to propose new language that would involve extraditing Hondurans charged with drug trafficking.
The Supreme Court accepted the change in 2013 and then by the end of 2013/early 2014, the US submitted their first extradition request for a Honduran involved in drug trafficking.
What Proceeded the Extradition Treaty: It was proceeded by two waves:
1. An increase in violence: massacres, violence, and a citizen call to do something about it
2. In Dec. 2011, Alfredo Landaverde was murdered. He was involved in drug policy and linked to General Julian Aristides Gonzalez who was murdered in December 2009. The murders of these men became the public face of the broader violence that was going on.
As a result of these two waves, there was pressure in Honduras to allow for extradition. There is no public information about who voted for extradition. Recently, there have been public statements from high-level authorities about the extradition treaty.
Honduras More Generally: The median income is between $2500 to $3000 annually. In 2010, it was ~$2000/annually.
Choloma: Has a population of approximately 200,000.
The city Choloma is located in the municipality of Choloma which includes an additional ~70,000 people. It's the 6th or 7th largest city in Honduras.
Puerto Cortés: The location of the largest import/export port for goods coming from the US especially. Located on the Caribbean coast. The largest port in Central America.
Honduran Police: The rank of Commissioner in the Honduran police is the highest rank. There are approximately 25 Commissioners.
Leopoldo Crivelli: The mayor of Choloma. He was first elected in November 2005.
FUSINA: An Inter-institutional Task Force created in approximately 2014. Responsible for investigating drug traffickers in Honduras and consists of members of the Armed Forces, National Police, representatives from the Attorney General’s office, and Ministries of Security and Defense.
Leonel Sauceda: High-level police commissioner in Honduras. Promoted to Commissioner in 2018.
Nelvin Sauceda Argueta: Brother of Leonel Sauceda on the father’s side. Sub-Commissioner of the police.
Rafael Callejas Romero: President of Honduras from 1990 to 1994.
Known for many things. He was charged in 1994 with many counts of embezzlement, abuse of authority in Honduras and in 2015, charged by the US Department of Justice for racketeering and wire fraud. Never held accountable in Honduras.
Graneros Nacionales: One of the largest Honduran importers of rice. Located in Choloma
Fuad Jarufe: Owner of Graneros Nacionales.
Rene Ponce Fonseca: In November 2017, named head of the Armed Forces by Juan Orlando Hernandez. Before that, he was head of FUSINA on the north coast of Honduras. Before that, he was commander of the 105 Battalion in San Pedro Sula.
President Manuel Zelaya: President of Honduras from 2006 to 2009.
Ricardo Alvarez: Mayor of Tegucigalpa from 2006 to 2014. Part of the National party.
Mauricio Oliva: President of the National Congress since 2014.
Oscar Chinchilla: Attorney General since 2014. Not sure if he is a member of the National Party.
Marlene Banegas: Worked in the Attorney General’s office. She was killed in October 2014. Coordinator of prosecutors.