{"id":52655,"date":"2023-03-30T15:58:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T22:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=52655"},"modified":"2023-03-30T15:58:00","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T22:58:00","slug":"honduran-faces-up-to-life-in-prison-after-pleading-guilty-to-drug-and-human-smuggling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=52655","title":{"rendered":"Honduran Faces Up to Life in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Drug and Human Smuggling"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LOUISIANA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"A Honduran national plead guilty Thursday to his role in a scheme to illegally bring Honduran nationals and to distribute cocaine in the United States, officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Josue Flores-Villeda is facing up to life in prison, according to authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to court documents, beginning in as early as January 2021, Villeda, 36, and six co-conspirators schemed to bring Honduran nationals and cocaine from Honduras to the United States. <\/span><\/p>\n

In February 2022, Villeda and his co-conspirators attempted to illegally bring 23 Honduran nationals and at least 24 kilograms of cocaine from Utila, Honduras, to Cocodrie, Louisiana, by boat. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"woman<\/a>At some point, the vessel developed engine trouble in the Gulf of Mexico. Villeda and his co-conspirators then chartered a boat and attempted to bring fuel to the disabled vessel to complete its journey to the United States. <\/span><\/p>\n

Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Coast Guard located the vessel adrift approximately 95 miles off the coast of Grand Isle, Louisiana, and towed it to shore.<\/span><\/p>\n

Villeda pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride. <\/span><\/p>\n

He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6 and faces up to life in prison.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., of the Justice Department\u2019s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Special Agent in Charge David Denton of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case with assistance from HSI Pittsburgh, HSI Atlanta, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carter Guice and Ben Myers for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Acting Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) are prosecuting the case.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LOUISIANA A Honduran national plead guilty Thursday to his role in a scheme to illegally bring Honduran nationals and to distribute cocaine in the United States, officials stated. 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