Thread by @innercitypress

OK - it's #NarcosHonduras trial Day 4 - Judge Castel did not yet mention the cut-off of call-in line demanded by US Attorney's Office, just said resume cross examination of Leonel Rivera. patreon.com/posts/48772116 Inner City Press will live tweet - thread below

Fuentes' lawyer: Do you remember telling prosecutors Chino had been arrested on a drug charge in Miami?
Leonel Rivera: Generally, yes.

Fuentes' lawyer: Do you remember Toen Montes saying Chino might cooperate, and seeking your help to kill Chino?
Leo Rivera: Toen Montes is a narco-trafficker.
Fuentes' lawyer: So Chino was killed in jail?
Leo Rivera: That, I don't remember.

Fuentes' lawyer: Do you remember testifying differently in a trial in this this courthouse, before the same judge?
Judge Castel: Irrelevant.
Fuentes' lawyer: Do you remember testifying differently?
Leo Rivera: I don't remember. Many narcos wanted China dead.

Fuentes' lawyer (on another murder) - So he was tortured with a cattle prod before you eyes and then you shot him, right?
Leonel Rivera: Unfortunately, yes. [Lastimosamente, si]

Fuentes' lawyer: You had paid off President Lobo, then President Hernandez, correct?
Leonel Rivera: Yes.
Fuentes' lawyer: But you couldn't be sure they wouldn't extradite you to the US, right?
Leonel Rivera: It did not come to that. I turned myself in.

Fuentes' lawyer, hammering away: You passed information about Mr. Berrios to Ramos Matos, who you knew was a drug trafficker, correct?
Leonel Rivera: Lastimosamente si, senor - Unfortunately, yes.

Fuentes' lawyer: And you knew he would likely be killed?
Leo Rivera: Of that I wasn't sure. They had already taken his properties.
Fuentes' lawyer: Did you think Ramos Mato was just going to say to Mr Berrios, Please don't do that again?
Leo Rivera: I didn't know.

Fuentes' lawyer: About a month later, Mr. Berrios was killed, right?
Leo Rivera: Yes he was killed. I'm not sure how long after I passed the information.
Fuentes' lawyer: It was not very long, correct?
Leo Rivera: It was fast, yes.

Judge Castel: How much longer do you have?
Fuentes' lawyer: I'm moving on to another topic.
Judge Castel: That's not what I asked you. How much longer?
Fuentes' lawyer: Several hours.
Judge Castel: OK, we'll take out break.
This pends: documentcloud.org/documents/2051…

During the break (now thread will continue) #NarcosHonduras Trial Day 4, Morning: Cooperator Leonel Rivera Is Grilled on Murders etc - Story: innercitypress.com/sdnylive6hondu… @SubstackInc matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/in-honduras-…

Fuentes' lawyer: Do you remember saying your organization moved 20 tons of cocaine?
Leonel Rivera: I said approximately more than 20 tons.
Fuentes' lawyer: You meant, up to 100 tons, is that what you're telling us.
Leo Rivera: Just, more than 20.

Fuentes' lawyer: You withdrew millions from the bank just before the OFAC sanctions were made public, correct?
Leonel Rivera: Yes. But now much of the money has been stolen. It was in a suitcase.
Fuentes' lawyer: But you bought a car for your daughter, correct?

Judge Castel: In what time period?
Leonel Rivera: Four years.
Fuentes' lawyer: So from 2015 through 2019?
Leonel Rivera: Yes.
Leonel Rivera: And the government never asked you to turn over your drug money?
Leo Rivera: No.

Fuentes' lawyer: When you cooperated, you never gave info on my client.
Leo Rivera: We talked about him.
Fuentes' lawyer: Just focus on Nov 2013 and Jan 2015 you didn't give into on Mr. Fuentes-Ramirez, correct?
Leo Rivera: I did. Otherwise he wouldn't be here.

Fuentes' lawyer: Do you remember talking to the government about the murder of Pluto? That is was Metro who paid Vacero to kill Pluto?
Leo Rivera: I don't remember. Even with the document.

Leo Rivera: What I told the DEA is that I had paid to try to kill the defendant and Metro, se lo repito, senor.
Fuentes' lawyer: What about the shooting at the horse race?

Leo Rivera: I don't remember that. Vacero was going to kill the defendant and Metro because they wanted to kill me and my brother for not investing $1 million in their cocaine deal.

Fuentes' lawyer: You have previously seen Gov Exhibit 306, the chart of Los Cachiro with you & your brother Javier at the head?
Leo Rivera: Si.
Fuentes' lawyer: It was a family business, with your father involved?
Leo Rivera: Just to put properties in his name.

Fuentes' lawyer: And the US government let you bring ten family members here since you are cooperating?
Leo Rivera: I don't know how many. My wife and kids and my mother. My father ya se murio - he's dead. That's 5 people.

Fuentes' lawyer: You knew that having contraband in the MCC (jail) is a crime?
Leo Rivera: It is the fault of the prison.
Judge Castel: Do you know if it is a violation of law?
Rivera: I don't know. It's a falta de la prision, senor.
Judge Castel: Next question.

Fuentes' lawyer: You had a phone in the MCC?
Leo Rivera: They lent it to me for a few hours.
Fuentes' lawyer: You rented it?
Leo Rivera: Correcto, senor. When I got there, the phone was in the unit.

Leo Rivera: And when I was found with the phone, I paid a price: four months in the hole.
Fuentes' lawyer: But your agreement did not get ripped up, right?
Leo Rivera: Right. Otherwise I would not be here.
Fuentes' lawyer: Let's break for lunch

Judge Castel: Let's break, ladies and gentlemen.
[Still unclear when and how Judge Castel will address US request to block access to two witnesses, which Inner City Press has formally opposed: documentcloud.org/documents/2051…

After the jury left for lunch, Judge Castel spoke to the lawyers - but not about US sealing request, but that a juror has said he has to travel on March 25. It will be a court exhibit. Made available as Judge Rakoff ordered today in Eaze? documentcloud.org/documents/2051…

They're back.
Fuentes' lawyer: You started transporting cocaine for the Valles, right?
Leonel Rivera: Yes, I don't remember the exact date.
Fuertes' lawyer: At the time you were also working with a Colombian named Turko, right?
Leo Rivera: Yes.

Fuentes' lawyer: You had a cousin who would open up the roads for you, Orlin Maradiaga Rivera, correct?
Leo Rivera: Maradiaga Lopez, senor.
Fuentes: He had a relationship with a police official, right?
Leo Rivera: I don't remember.

Fuentes' lawyer: You worked with a politician named Adam Funes. What was his job?
Leo Rivera: He had a bus company, mayor of Tocoa (sp) Colon.
Fuentes' lawyer: You worked with Mr. Oqueli?
Leo Rivera: Yes. In the National Congress.

Fuentes' lawyer: Then president Pepe Lobo, you paid him a bribe in 2009 - who much, $250,000 to $300,000?
Leonel Rivera: Corecto, senor.
Fuentes' lawyer: That was protection against arrest and extradition, right?
Leo Rivera: Yes.

Fuentes' lawyer: For the second bribe, you and Javier when to his house, of President Lobo, right?
Leo Rivera: Yes, Javier went there. We discussed extradition and other topics.

Fuentes' lawyer: So President Lobo told you, if you had trouble, his son would call a general for you, correct?
Leo Rivera: Yes.
Fuentes' lawyer: President Lobo's son would transport drugs with you, to make you feel safe, right?
Leo Rivera: Right.

Fuentes' lawyer: The money you gave to Juan Orlando Hernandez through his sister had several purposes, right?
Leo Rivera: I don't understand the question.
Fuentes' lawyer: One reason was to prevent extradition, right?
Leo Rivera: Me and my brother.

Fuentes' lawyer: Also so he [JOH] would give you government contracts so you could launder money, right?
Leo Rivera: Si senor.
Fuentes' lawyer: You bribed Juan Orlando Hernandez before the election, right?
Leo Rivera: Yes, that's right.

Fuentes' lawyer: And before Lobo, you had a deal with Zelaya, $500,000 for protection?
Leonel Rivera: Manuel Zelaya Rosales, he said he would make my cousin a minister.
Fuentes' lawyer: Minister of Justice?
Leo Rivera: Of Security. The appointment never happened.

Fuentes' lawyer: So you've paid millions in bribes.
Leonel Rivera: Many millions. Es carro, no es barato.

Judge Castel: When will you finish this cross examination?
Fuentes' lawyer: I hope by the next break.
Judge Castel: Ask your next question.
Fuentes' lawyer: Metro told you he was sending the drugs to Mr. Fuentes in Miami, correct?
Leo Rivera: 1 to 5 kilos a month

Fuentes' lawyer: The US Government will decide if they write a letter for you to get a lighter sentence, right?
Leo Rivera: Correct.

At 3:08 pm, cross examination of Leonel Rivera ended. Judge Castel asks everyone to wait to leave until the juror clear the lobby

Jury is back, and now it's re-direct examination of Leonel Rivera by the US Attorney's Office (which is still asking to cut access during the upcoming testimony of two witnesses - when?)

Re-direct:
AUSA: Mr. Rivera, did you record meeting with Tony Hernandez?
Leo Rivera: Yes.
AUSA: And with Mr. Rosenthal, a money launderer and a member of the government of Juan Orlando Hernandez?
Leo Rivera: Si, senor.

More re-direct:
AUSA: You were asked about the murder of Mr. Palacios' girlfriend, Ms. Sanchez. Did you know she had been killed?
Leonel Rivera: I did not know. No sabia, senor.

AUSA: And General Aristides - at the time of your surrender, had you been charged with that murder?
Leonel Rivera: No. No senor en ningun momento.
AUSA: Did you plead guilty to it and tell the DEA about the participation of other drug traffickers like the Valles?

AUSA: And in the MCC, what did the defendant tell you?
Leonel Rivera: He said he had videos to show how Juan Orlando Hernandez was receiving shipments of cocaine in the airports of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa...

Leo Rivera: ... and that he did it right in front of the DEA but they didn't realize it. That Juan Orlando Hernandez was laughing at the DEA.
AUSA: May I have a moment to consult? [Pause] No further questions.
Leo Rivera is led out. Gracias su senoria, he says.

As witness box is prepared, Judge Castel tells jurors that Wednesday is St. Patrick's Day "for those of you who celebrate the holiday."
Next witness: Dario Euraque [not yet the bookkeeper]
Note: Inner City Press covered him last time:

https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1181213088600731648

AUSA: Is there a term limit for serving as president of Honduras?
Professor Euraque: There was until 2014, when the National Party argued that Article 239 was unconstitutional.
AUSA: When was JOH elected?
A: 2013. To expire on 2015. Terms limits removed in 2015.

AUSA: Is there extradition from Honduras to the US?
A: It was permitted in 1928, for drug trafficking. Then Pepe Lobo met with the US in Miami Jan 18, 2012 and the next day proposed language allowing extradition.

AUSA: Who is Polo Crivelli?
A: Mayor of Chaloma since 2005.
AUSA: Who was Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero?
A: President of Honduras 1990 to 1994.
AUSA: Was he known as being corrupt?
Fuentes' lawyer: Objection!
Judge Castel: I'll allow it
A: Yes

AUSA: Are you familiar with Mel Zelaya.
A: He was president 2006 to 2009.
AUSA: And Ricardo Alvarez?
A: He is vice president under Juan Orlando Hernandez...
AUSA: No further questions.
Defense estimates 20-30 minutes of cross-examination.

Defense: So there's the Liberal and National party, right? Do you agree that the National Party is not associated with nationalistic policies?
A: Possibly.
Defense: Then there's the Lever party?
A: Libre.
Defense: And you support them.
A: I may have, yes.

Defense: You would agree that the US and Honduras have a healthy relationship, right?
AUSA: Objection.
Judge Castel: I'll allow it.
AUSA: The two militaries work together, right?
A: Yes.
Defense: Is San Pedro Sula the deadliest city in the world?
A: Maybe in 2013

Defense: And people carry weapons for protection?
A: That's one of the reasons.
Judge Castel: We'll leave it here for today. [Jury leaves]
Judge Castel: Government, what's next?
AUSA: Witness 1 and Witness 2, our letter.
[Which Inner City Press opposed]

Judge Castel: I received a letter from Inner City Press [seeking not cutting the audio line]
Defense: We would prefer that remain open. But we could not find a case.
Judge Castel: Masking the voice is easier said than done. Where did this phone line come from?

Judge Castel: During COVID, with parties calling in. The AT&T line was the only way. Since last March, access was limited until September, then closed again from Thanksgiving until February 15. This courtroom is open.

Judge Castel: So public access that exists today is the equivalent of what existed for years. Without AT&T line, no one has been excluded. I'm going to grant the government's application. In fact, I don't expect to continue the AT&T line in the future.

Judge Castel: That's where I am.
Story soon.