UNTED STATES DSTRCT COURT SOUTERN DSTRCT OF NE OR UNTED STATES OF AMER - PDF document

1 UN,TED STATES D,STR,CT COURT SOUT+ERN D,
UN,TED STATES D,STR,CT COURT SOUT+ERN D,STR,CT OF NE: { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https://www.docslides.com/slides/900599/NANUN_TED_STATES_D_STR_CT_COURT_SOUT_ERN_D_", "description": "UN_TED_STATES_D_STR_CT_COURT_SOUT_ERN_D_STR_CT_OF_NE___OR__UN_TED_STATES_OF_AMER_CA__UAN_ANTON_O__ERN__NDE__A_VARADO__x0", "width": "1275" }

2 .......... 14d CorruptLon ,s AdmLssLbOe
.......... 14d CorruptLon ,s AdmLssLbOe as DLrect EvLdence and Pursuant to RuOe 404b .....................................................................� 1;ခခခခက　14A. AppOLcabOe /aZ ................................................. 141. DLrect EvLdence of tKe Defendant’s *uLOt .....................................................................� 0;　14rsuant to RuOe 404b .............................................................. 15B. DLscussLon ......................................................... 15,,. EvLdence of Statements b\ +onduran OffLcLaOs to C:-3 Ls AdmLssLbOe Under tKe +earsa\ RuOes ........................................... 18A. ReOevant Statements .......................................... 1B. AppOLcabOe /aZ ................................................. 11. RuOe 801d2E: Co-ConspLrator Statements ............................................................ 12. RuOe 804b3: Statements AJaLnst ,nterest ................................................................. 20C. DLscussLon ......................................................... 221. TKe Statements Are AdmLssLbOe Pursuant to RuOe 801d2E .................................. 222. TKe Statements Are AdmLssLbOe Pursuant to RuOe 804b3........................................ 25,,,. EvLdence of Statements b\ aO PoOLce to C:-4 Ls AdmLssLbOe Under tKe +earsa\ RuOes ..............................................................................� 1;ခခခခခခခခက　26 Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 2 of 47 A. FactuaO BacNJround .......................................... 26B. ReOevant Statemen

3 ts .....................................
ts .......................................... 28C. DLscussLon ......................................................... 21. TKe Statements Are AdmLssLbOe Pursuant to RuOe 801d2E .................................. 22. TKe Statements Are AdmLssLbOe Pursuant to RuOe 804b3........................................ 31,s AdmLssLbOe ............................................................. 31A. ReOevant Facts ................................................... 31B. DLscussLon ......................................................... 32V. EvLdence of Statements b\ a +onduran DruJ TraffLcNer to C:-5 Ls AdmLssLbOe Under tKe +earsa\ RuOes ........................................... 34A. FactuaO BacNJround .......................................... 35B. ReOevant Statements .......................................... 36C. DLscussLon ......................................................... 361. TKe Statements Are AdmLssLbOe Pursuant to RuOe 801d2E .................................. 362. TKe Statements Are AdmLssLbOe Pursuant to RuOe 804b3........................................ 3entraO AmerLcan DruJ TraffLcN ,nLtLaOs Are AdmLssLbOe ....................................................... 38A. ReOevant Facts ................................................... 38B. DLscussLon ......................................................... 31. TKe MessaJes Are AdmLssLbOe Pursuant to RuOe 801d2E .................................... 32. TKe MessaJes Are AdmLssLbOe Pursuant to RuOe 804b3 .......................................... 42CONC/US,ON ..................................................&#

4 x00 1;ခက.......... 44 Case 1:15-cr-0
x00 1;ခက.......... 44 Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 3 of 47 UN,TED STATES D,STR,CT COURT SOUT+ERN D,STR,CT OF NE: { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https://www.docslides.com/slides/900599/NANx00_1__________________44_Case_1_15_cr_0", "description": "x00_1__________________44_Case_1_15_cr_00379_PKC___Document_78___Filed_08_02_19___Page_3_of_47_UN_TED_STATES_D_STR_CT_CO", "width": "1275" }

5 anNLnJ +onduran offLcLaOs obtaLn
anNLnJ +onduran offLcLaOs obtaLned sensLtLve LnformatLon from mLOLtar\ and OaZ enforcement sources tKat tKe\ used to pOan druJ sKLpments and empOo\ed KeavLO\ armed securLt\ teams tKat LncOuded members of tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce to protect and escort tKeLr cocaLne. TKe defendant and KLs co-conspLrators enJaJed Ln tKLs conduct Ln order to enrLcK tKemseOves to fund campaLJns b\ candLdates from tKe Partido Nacional de Honduras tKe ³NatLonaO Part\´ LncOudLnJ but not OLmLted to presLdentLaO eOectLons Ln 200 and 2013 and to maLntaLn and enKance tKeLr poZer and poOLtLcaO posLtLons Ln +onduras. As a resuOt b\ 2014 tKe defendant Zas not onO\ a vLoOent muOtL-ton druJ traffLcNer but aOso a +onduran conJressman. Based on tKe ZeaOtK and poZer tKat tKe defendant’s proOonJed crLmLnaO conduct afforded KLm Ln +onduras Ke beOLeved tKat Ke couOd operate ZLtK totaO LmpunLt\. And Ke Zas rLJKt to some e[tent at Oeast Ln KLs oZn countr\. MuOtLpOe ZLtnesses ZLOO testLf\ about tKe defendant’s personaO oZnLnJ a beOt-fed macKLneJun tKat couOd penetrate armored veKLcOes. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2010 a TKe *overnment respectfuOO\ submLts tKat aOO of tKe testLmon\ and otKer evLdence descrLbed Ln tKLs brLef LncOudLnJ ZLtK respect to acts of vLoOence Ls admLssLbOe as dLrect evLdence of tKe crLmes cKarJed. TKe *overnment Kereb\ at Lt aOso Lntends to offer tKLs evLdence Ln tKe aOternatLve pursuant to RuOe 404b. TKe *overnment pOans to contLnue to meet ZLtK potentLaO ZLtnesses betZeen noZ and tKe trLaO and ZLOO suppOement tKLs notLce as necessar\ sKouOd tKe *overnment Oearn of addLtLonaO acts of vLoOence LnvoOvLnJ tKe defendant or otKer RuOe 404b evLdence. Case 1:15-cr-00379-P

6 KC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page
KC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 5 of 47 +onduran PresLdent descrLbed beOoZ KeOped depOo\ mLOLtar\ personneO to tKe +onduras-*uatemaOa border Ln order to deter efforts b\ a *uatemaOan traffLcNer to encroacK on druJ-traffLcNLnJ terrLtor\ Ln Zestern +onduras used b\ tKe defendant and KLs co-conspLrators. On at Oeast tZo occasLons betZeen appro[LmateO\ 2011 and 2013 tKe defendant KeOped arranJe murders of druJ-traffLcNLnJ rLvaOs. ,n one of tKose LncLdents tKe defendant reOLed on a member of tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce ZKo Oater became tKe cKLef of tKe entLre poOLce force to e[ecute tKe NLOOLnJ. FLnaOO\ notZLtKstandLnJ an eJreJLous course of conduct tKat Oasted over a decade tKe defendant traveOed to tKe UnLted States Ln October 2016 and OLed—bra]enO\ and cateJorLcaOO\—about KLs druJ-TKe *overnment ZLOO estabOLsK tKese facts at trLaO tKrouJK testLmon\ from at Oeast fLve of tKe defendant’s former co-conspLrators OaZ enforcement testLmon\ reJardLnJ tKe October 2016 proffer and tKe defendant’s November 2018 arrest tKe defendant’s post-arrest statement evLdence seL]ed Ln connectLon ZLtK KLs arrest LncOudLnJ data from KLs pKones and e[pert testLmon\ reJardLnJ druJ-traffLcNLnJ patterns tKe reOevant KLstor\ and structure of tKe +onduran poOLtLcaO s\stem and features of tKe ZeaTKe Defendant Starts ProvLdLnJ DruJ TraffLcNers ZLtK /aZ Enforcement ,nformatLon B\ appro[LmateO\ 2004 tKe defendant forJed reOatLonsKLps ZLtK druJ traffLcNers operatLnJ Ln Zestern +onduras and eOseZKere LncOudLnJ +ector EmLOLo Fernande] Rosa and former traffLcNers ZKo ZLOO testLf\ at trLaO ³C:-1´ and ³C:-2´. ,n e[cKanJe for pa\ments tKe On AuJust 2 201 -udJe SuOOLvan sentenced Fern

7 ande] Rosa to OLfe LmprLsonment foOOoZLn
ande] Rosa to OLfe LmprLsonment foOOoZLnJ KLs JuLOt\ pOea to partLcLpatLnJ Ln a conspLrac\ to dLstrLbute and possess ZLtK Lntent to dLstrLbute controOOed substances ZKLcK L Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 6 of 47 defendant leveraged his family’s power in the area by providing information about law enforcement activities and operations so that the traffickers could transport cocaine through In approximately 2006, the defendant started to establish connections to Colombian drug traffickers with access to cocaine-production facilities, inclu (“CC-1”), and additional traffickers in Honduras such as (“CC-2”). The defendant worked with CC-1, CC-2 and others to receive large cocaine shipments in Honduras via air and maritime routes, which other co-conspirators transported to the United States. During the course of these activities, the defendant continued to access law-enforcement information to ensure safe passage of the shipments, and he relied on his political access to facilitate these activities. For example, in approximately 2007, CW-1 asked the defendant to prevent the transfers of co-conspirators in the Honduran National Police to other parts of Honduras because CW-1 wanted to continue using them in drug shipments with the defendant. The defendant successfully intervened and kept the officers assigned to In approximately 2008, the defendant also started to work on shipments with, among others, CC-1, CW-2, and members of the Honduran cartel, which had a base of Attached as Exhibit A is a chart identifying the names of the co-conspirators referred to in this memorandum using the convention “CC-[number].” The Government respectfully requests that Exhibit A be maintained under seal until after the trial. Cooperating witnesses will confirm at trial that the group was “one of the most pr

8 olific Central American narcotics traffi
olific Central American narcotics trafficking organizations,” which earned that reputation through a Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 7 of 47 operations in the Copán Department in western Honduras. In approximately the same year, the defendant started to talk to a Honduran official (“CW-3”)²who was also a large-scale drug trafficker operating in western Honduras²about working together in drug trafficking if the National Party was successful in elections scheduled to take place in late 2009. The defendant and CW-3 were both members of the National Party. At the time of the defendant’s preliminary conversations with CW-3, (“CC-3”), then a National Party congressman representing the Olancho Department, was starting a campaign for the Honduran presidency. The defendant’s brother, (“CC-4”), was beginning to pursue ressman representing the Lempira Department. The defendant told CW-3 that they could form a particularly successful partnership based on protection from CC-3 and CC-4 if they won in the 2009 elections, and that he believed CC-4 would succeed CC-3 as nd continue to protect them. In approximately 2009, while the defendant continued to participate in large drug shipments with Fernandez Rosa, CC-1, CW-1, CW-2, and others, CW-3 met in private with CC-3 during CC-3’s presidential campaign. During the meeting, CC-3 asked CW-3 for financial and logistical support for the National Party campaigns of CC-3 and CC-4. CW-3 promised to give CC-3 $2 million and other support in exchange for, among other benefits: (i) protection from prosecutors and law enforcement who might investigate CW-3’s drug-trafficking activities, and (ii) a political appointment for one of CW-3’s relatives. After the meeting, CW-3 sent $1 million “combination of brutal violence and public corruption,” includi

9 ng activities involving the defendant.
ng activities involving the defendant. OFAC, Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 8 of 47 Ln druJ proceeds to CC-3’s resLdence Ln TeJucLJaOpa +onduras. FoOOoZLnJ tKe fLrst pa\ment C:-3 met ZLtK CC-3 and CC-4 tKe defendant’s brotKer. CC-3 confLrmed receLpt of tKe fLrst pa\ment and tKat Ke ZouOd appoLnt C:-3’s reOatLve Lf tKe NatLonaO Part\ campaLJns Zere successfuO. Based on tKese assurances Ln tKe presence of CC-4 C:-3 sent anotKer $1 mLOOLon Ln DurLnJ tKe summer of 200 tKe sLttLnJ +onduran PresLdent Zas removed from offLce foOOoZLnJ a coup d’état. After tKe coup tKe defendant met ZLtK C:-3 to dLscuss tKe sLtuatLon. TKe defendant LndLcated tKat tKe coup Kad Lmproved tKe cKances tKat CC-3 and CC-4 ZouOd ZLn Ln tKe eOectLons Oater tKat \ear and reLterated KLs Lnterest Ln a druJ-traffLcNLnJ partnersKLp. TKe defendant confLrmed tKat Ke Kad connectLons to one or more CoOombLan druJ traffLcNers 1 and asNed questLons about C:-3’s metKods for securLnJ and trCC-3 Zon tKe post-coup presLdentLaO eOectLon Ln Oate 200. FoOOoZLnJ tKe eOectLon CC-4 toOd C:-3 tKat CC-4 Zas seeNLnJ to become tKe PresLdent of tKe +onduran ConJress and asNed for assLstance obtaLnLnJ votes from otKer +onduran conJressmen. C:-3 aJreed to KeOp and brLbed tKe conJressmen. CC-4 Oater tKanNed C:-3 for tKe assLstance and toOd C:-3 tKat as promLsed C:-3 ZouOd be protected from prosecutLon and OaZ enforcement ta,n appro[LmateO\ 2010 CC-4 Zas named PresLdent of tKe ConJress and tKe defendant fLnaOL]ed KLs druJ-traffLcNLnJ partnersKLp ZLtK C:-3. TKe defendant e[pOaLned tKat members of carteO Kad Lntroduced KLm to CoOombLan cocaLne suppOLers and tKat Ke Zanted to receLve some cocaLne sKLpments Ln

10 +onduras ZLtKout assLstance f. TKe defe
+onduras ZLtKout assLstance f. TKe defendant and C:-3 aJreed to receLve tKe sKLpments Ln eastern +onduras Ln tKe MosquLtLa reJLon or tKe CoOón Department on tKe AtOantLc coast and tKen transport tKe druJs toZard tKe +onduras- Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 9 of 47 *uatemaOa border usLnJ KeOLcopters and/or trucNs. TKe defendant assured C:-3 tKat tKe cocaLne-Oaden veKLcOes ZouOd not be LnterdLcted because of KLs access to tKe poOLce and radar LnformatLon. FoOOoZLnJ tKe meetLnJ betZeen appro[LmateO\ 2010 and appro[LmateO\ 2012—Ln addLtLon to otKer druJ sKLpments ZLtK otKer co-conspLrators—tKe defendant and C:-3 ZorNed toJetKer once or tZLce a montK on cocaLne sKLpments tKat t\pLcaOO\ consLsted of severaO Kundred NLOoJrams. DurLnJ tKe course of tKose druJ sKLpments tKe defendant confLrmed tKat some of tKe cocaLne produced Ln CoOombLa bore a stamp ZLtK KLs LnLtLaOs ³T+.´ TKe defendant aOso e[pOaLned tKat Ke operated a separate facLOLt\ Ln tKe /empLra Department ZKere tKere Zere addLtLonaO presses to marN NLOoJrams. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2011 C:-3 suJJested to tKe defendant tKat tKe\ NLOO a member of tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce because C:-3 tKouJKt tKe offLcer Zas coOOectLnJ LnformatLon about tKeLr druJ movements Ln contempOatLon of robbLnJ tKem. TKe defendant responded tKat tKe murder Zas not necessar\ because tKe defendant couOd use KLs connectLons ZLtKLn tKe poOLce force to Kave tKe offLcer transferred—sLmLOar to tKe assLstance tKe defendant provLded prevLousO\ to poOLce ZorNLnJ Ln druJ traffLcNLnJ for tKe defendant and C:-1. C:-3 aJreed tKat tKe\ sKouOd pursue tKat course of actLon and tKe offLcer Zas Oater transferred aZa\ from tKe area ZKere tKe druJ sKLpments Zere beLnJ transported. Prepares to FLOO +Ls BrotKer’s ConJressLonaO Seat ,n -anuar\

11 2012 tKe +onduran ConJress—stL
2012 tKe +onduran ConJress—stLOO Oed b\ CC-4—passed OeJLsOatLon autKorL]LnJ tKe e[tradLtLon of +onduran natLonaOs to face druJ-traffLcNLnJ cKarJes Ln tKe UnLted States. TKe defendant toOd C:-3 tKat tKe OeJLsOatLon Zas enacted Ln response to dLpOomatLc pressure tKat tKe UnLted States appOLed to CC-3 and CC-4. TKe defendant aOso LndLcated tKat Ke Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 10 of 47 Zas confLdent tKat Ke ZouOd not be e[tradLted. :Ken C:-3 asNed about KLs oZn prospects tKe defendant e[pressed Oess confLdence but promLsed tKat C:-3 ZouOd at Oeast be protected ZLtKLn FoOOoZLnJ tKe conversatLon reJardLnJ e[tradLtLon b\ appro[LmateO\ October 2012 tKe defendant commenced a NatLonaO Part\ campaLJn for a posLtLon representLnJ tKe /empLra Department ZKLcK Ls aNLn to beLnJ a bacNup or deput\ to a sLttLnJ conJressman. ,n /empLra tKe defendant campaLJned ZLtK an offLcLaO ³OffLcLaO-1´ ZKo Zas seeNLnJ a conJressLonaO seat ZKLOe actLnJ as tKe VLce PresLdent of +onduras under CC-3. TKe defendant and OffLcLaO-1 actLveO\ and pubOLcO\ supported tKe presLdentLaO campaLJn of CC-4. DurLnJ tKe perLod of tKe defendant’s overt NatLonaO Part\ campaLJn betZeen at Oeast appro[LmattKe defendant aOso ³rented´ KeOLcopters to C:-3 to use to transport cocaLne and druJ proceeds Ln e[cKanJe for pa\ments of betZeen appro[LmateO\ $20000 and $50TKe Defendant :orNs ZLtK a +ondurresLdentLaO CampaLJn,n appro[LmateO\ 2013 CC-4 tKe defendant’s brotKer Lnstructed C:-3 not to seeN reeOectLon because of medLa reports reJardLnJ C:-3’s druJ-traffLcNLnJ actLvLtLes. CC-4 Zarned tKat Ke couOd not contLnue to protect C:-3 Lf Ke remaLned Ln offLce partLcuOarO\ Ln OLJKt of e[tradLtLon-reOated pressures. CC-4 aOso asNed C:-3 to

12 support KLs campaLJn for tKe +onduran p
support KLs campaLJn for tKe +onduran presLdenc\ b\ brLbLnJ OocaO poOLtLcLans so tKat tKe\ ZouOd muster support for CC-4 from tKeLr constLtuencLes. C:-3 aJreed to pa\ tKe brLbes Ln e[cKanJe for amonJ otKer tKLnJs contLnued protectLon and tKe compOetLon of a pubOLc ZorNs proMect Ln KLs reJLon. C:-3 subsequentO\ spent appro[LmateO\ $1.5 mLOOLon Ln druJ proceeds to support CC-4’s presLdentLaO campaLJn LncOudLnJ Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 11 of 47 CC-4 Zas eOected PresLdent of +onduras Ln Oate 2013. TKe defendant and OffLcLaO-1 aOso prevaLOed Ln tKeLr conJressLonaO campaLJns Ln tKe /empLra Department. ,n 2014 members of tKe carteO Zere provLsLonaOO\ arrested Ln +onduras Ln response to a request from tKe UnLted States. Around tKe tLme of tKe arrests a KLJK-ranNLnJ member of tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce accused CC-4 of protectLnJ C:-3. TKe defendant toOd C:-3 tKat tKe offLcer Zas JoLnJ to be removed due to OacN of Oo\aOt\ to CC-4 and tKe offLcer Zas subsequentO\ removed from KLs TKe Defendant Ls EOevated Ln tKe +onduran ConJress and Meets ZL,n earO\ 2014 after CC-4 Zas eOected PresLdent of +onduras Ke appoLnted OffLcLaO-1 to act as tKe +onduran MLnLster of Defense. As a resuOt tKe defendant Zas eOevated from tKe posLtLon to assume OffLcLaO-1’s vacated seat Ln tKe NatLonaO CoAround tKe same tLme members of tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce ZKo Zere LnvoOved Ln druJ traffLcNLnJ set up a meetLnJ betZeen tKe defendant and a cooperatLnJ ZLtness named DevLs /eoneO MaradLaJa RLvera. MaradLaJa RLvera and KLs brotKer Kad Oed tKe  a vLoOent CoOón-based druJ-traffLcNLnJ orJanL]atLon ZKLcK tKe U.S. Department of tKe Treasur\ sanctLoned tZLce Ln 2013 as part of ZLdeO\ pubOLcL]ed actLons. MaradLaJa RLvera started to co

13 operate ZLtK tKe DEA Ln appro[LmateO\ Oa
operate ZLtK tKe DEA Ln appro[LmateO\ Oate 2013 and KLs meetLnJ ZLtK tKe defendant Zas conducted at tKe dLrectLon of OaZ enforcement. TKe purported purpose of MaradLaJa RLvera’s meetLnJ ZLtK tKe defendant Zas to dLscuss usLnJ tKe defendant’s poOLtLcaO poZer—LncOudLnJ KLs neZ conJressLonaO posLtLon and connectLons to CC-4 tKe PresLdent of +onduras—to KeOp MaradLaJa RLvera recover funds tKat tKe +onduran Jovernment oZed one of tKe mone\-OaunderLnJ front companLes. TKe funds Zere oZed Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 12 of 47 at Oeast on paper because MaradLaJa RLvera OLNe C:-3 Kad brLbed CC-3 Ln appro[LmateO\ 200 Ln e[cKanJe for protectLon from OaZ enforcement Lnterference and affLrmatLve Jovernment support tKat KeOped affLOLates operate under a veneer of OeJLtLmac\. ,n e[cKanJe for addLtLonaO NLcNbacNs CC-3 and KLs son FabLo /obo KeOped cause +onduran Jovernment entLtLes to enter Lnto contracts ZLtK fronts reOatLnJ to pubOLc ZorNs proMects. B\ tKe tLme CC-3 Oeft offLce KoZever tKe +onduran Jovernment stLOO oZed tKe mone\. DurLnJ tKe defendant’s meetLnJ ZLtK MaradLaJa RLvera Ke revLeZed some of tKe reOevant contracts accepted a brLbe and aJreed to KeOp MaradLaJa RLvera. Because tKe front compan\ Ln questLon Zas subMect to sanctLons Ln tKe UnLted States and LnvestLJatLon Ln +onduras MaradLaJa RLvera’s assocLates set up a neZ compan\. TKe defendant admLtted Ln KLs post-arrest statement tKat Ke spoNe to at Oeast one +onduran offLcLaO reJardLnJ MaradLaJa RLvera’s request and tKe +onduran Jovernment Lssued pa\ments to tKat compan\ after tKe defendant’s meetLnJ ZLtK MaradLaJa RLvera. mes Ln MLamL tKat Zas conducted b\ a prosecutor from tKe SoutKern DAfter beLnJ Zarned

14 of tKe consequences of O\LnJ Ln tKe pres
of tKe consequences of O\LnJ Ln tKe presence of counseO and upon beLnJ confronted ZLtK portLons of tKe vLdeo of tKe Februar\ 2014 meetLnJ ZLtK MaradLaJa RLvera tKe defendant cOaLmed tKat Ke Kad never met MaradLaJa RLvera. +e descrLbed some aspects of KLs ,n Ma\ 2016 FabLo /obo pOeaded JuLOt\ to partLcLpatLnJ Ln a cocaLne-LmportatLon conspLrac\. See United States v. Lobo No. 15 Cr. 14 /*S. ,n Septemb/obo prLncLpaOO\ to 288 montKs’ LmprLsonment a $50000 fLne a Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 13 of 47 relationships with Fernandez Rosa, co-defendant Mario José Cálix Hernandez, a member of the cartel named Héctor Velásquez Torres, a/k/a “Toño Frontera,” and others. The defendant admitted to knowing that these men were involved in drug trafficking, but denied participating in those activities. The defendant also discussed his knowledge of drug-trafficking routes between South America and the United States, and that Honduras is a major transshipment point for U.S.-bound cocaine. At the end of the meeting, the defendant lied, categorically, that (i) he had never accepted money from drug traffickers for any purpose, and (ii) he had never provided assistance The defendant returned to Honduras on the day of the proffer and issued a statement to the press. He declared “his personal commitment to the firm belief that no one is above the law in Honduras,” referred to a similar public comment by CC-4, and notified the public that²“as a citizen who wishes to do the right thing”²he had a “voluntary meeting” with prosecutors in the United States and remained williThe Defendant’s Brother Protects and Monitors One of the DefendIn approximately 2016, CC-4 requested a meeting with CW-3. When CW-3 arrived, one of CC-4’s m

15 inisters, (“CC-5”) told CW-3 that C
inisters, (“CC-5”) told CW-3 that CC-4 was going to remove CW-3’s relative from his government position because of increasing scrutiny Although those two categorical lies are the basis for the false statements charge in Count Four of the Indictment, the Government intends to offer testimony relating to his other statements during the October 2016 meeting as The direct quotations of statements by the defendant set forth herein are based on draft translations from Spanish to English, which the Government will finalize and produce to the Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 14 of 47 related to drug trafficking. CC-5 also told CW-3 that CC-4 wanted CW-3’s support in connection with the upcoming presidential election. In response, CW-3 asked if CC-4 would continue to protect CW-3. CC-5 responded that CC-4 would do so if CW-3 supported CC-4’s campaign. CW-3 subsequently spent one million Lempira in drug proceeds to support CC-4’s successful reelection campaign. In approximately 2018, (“CC-6”), a relative of the defendant who was a member of the Honduran National Police, called CW-3 regarding media reports that CW-3 was planning to surrender in the United States. During the call, CC-6 indicated that CC-4 wanted to know if it was true that CW-3 had surrendered. CW-3 confirmed to CC-6 that he was In approximately 2011, a drug-trafficking associate of CW-3²(“Victim-1”)²tried to block access to one of the routes to the Guatemalan border that CW-3 was using to transport cocaine shipments involving the defendant. CW-3 told the defendant about the problem during a meeting relating to one of their shipments, expressed interest in having Victim-1 killed, and indicated that Victim-1 had also threatened a high-ranking member of the Honduran National Police named (“CC-7”). The defendant offered to

16 speak to CC-7 about murdering Victim-1.
speak to CC-7 about murdering Victim-1. Approximately two weeks later, during a meeting relating to payments for the same drug shipment, the defendant told CW-3 that he spoke to CC-7 about the situation with Victim-1, and that CC-7 was preparing to have Victim-1 murdered by monitoring his movements in order to identify a vulnerable loca Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 15 of 47 Victim-1 was murdered in Honduras in approximately July 2011, about a month after the defendant’s meeting with CW-3, in connection with an attack that killed at least three additional men and wounded a fourth. According to media reports, CC-7 purported to investigate the incident, going so far as to call the attack “well-planned.” Approximately one week after the murder of Victim-1, the defendant met with CW-3. During the meeting, the defendant asked CW-3 if he had read news reports about the murder, confirmed that CC-7 had coordinated the attack, and told CW-3 that CC-7’s participation had been critical because Victim-1 was protected by extensive security. In approximately 2013, a worker for the defendant and CW-3 name (“Victim-2”) was arrested in connection with drug-trafficking activities in the Colón Department. CW-3 told the defendant about the arrest of Victim-2, and described Victim-2’s role in their ongoing crimes. The defendant responded that Victim-2 had access to too much information, and that they could not risk that he would cooperate with authorities. CW-3 agreed to talk to a co-conspirator, Wilter Neptalí Blanco Ruíz, about having Victim-2 murdered, which they did. After the murder, the defendant told CW-3 on the phone that he had seen the news and they should meet in person. During a subsequent meeting, the defendant expressed relief that Victim-2 was dead because Victim-2 knew too much about their dr

17 In May 2017, Blanco Ruíz pleaded guilty
In May 2017, Blanco Ruíz pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida, pursuant to a plea agreement, to participating in a cocaine-importation conspiracy. , No. 16 Cr. 20602. In August 2017, Blanco was sentenced principally to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment. Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 16 of 47 AR*UMENT EvLdence of NarcotLcs-ReOated Cct EvLdence and TKe defendant and otKer +onduran offLcLaOs sucK as CC-3 and CC-4 reOLed on druJ proceeds to fund NatLonaO Part\ campaLJns and otKer poOLtLcaO operatLons to controO OarJe sZatKs of tKe +onduran Jovernment to brLbe offLcLaOs ZKo KeOped ensure safe passaJe for tKeLr cocaLne and Ln an effort to protect tKemseOves from OaZ enforcement scrutLn\ Ln +onduras and eOseZKere. TKus evLdence of narcotLcs-reOated corruptLon Ls admLssLbOe at trLaO as dLrect evLdence and pursuant rators and tKe defendant’s motLAppOLcabOe /aZ DLrect EvLdence of tKe Defendant’s *uLOt ReOevant evLdence ³need onO\ tend to prove tKe Jovernment’s case´ sucK as ³evLdence tKat adds conte[t and dLmensLon to tKe Jovernment’s proof of tKe cKarJes.´ United States v.110 F.3d 36 41 2d CLr. 1. TKus bacNJround evLdence Ls reOevant and admLssLbOe pursuant KoZ for e[ampOe tKe cLrcumstfurnLsK an e[pOanatLon of tKe understandLnJ or Lntent ZLtK ZKLcK certaLn acts Zere performed.´ LnternaO quotatLon marNs omLtted. EvLdence Ls aOso admLssLbOe Lf Lt reOates to conduct tKat: L ³µarose out of tKe same transactLon or serLes of transactLons as tKe cKarJed offense’´ LL ³µLs Lne[trLcabO\ LntertZLned ZLtK tKe evLdence reJardLnJ tKe cKarJed offense’´ or �

18 0b;LLL ³µLs necessar\ to compO
0b;LLL ³µLs necessar\ to compOete tKe stor\ of tKe crLme on trLaO.’´ United States v. 22 F. Supp. 3d 313 31 S.D.N.<. 201 quotLnJ United States v. 02 F.3d 22 36-3 2d CLr. 2012. ³EvLdence fLttLnJ ZLtKLn one of tKese tKree cateJorLes Ls consLdered dLrect evLdence and RuOe 404 Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 17 of 47 Ls not appOLcabOe.´ United States v. No. 14 Cr. 518 2016 :/ 162356 at 3 S.D.N.<. Under RuOe 404b courts ³ma\ aOOoZ evLdence of otKer acts b\ tKe defendant Lf tKe evLdence Ls reOevant to an Lssue at trLaO otKer tKan tKe defendant’s cKaracter and Lf tKe rLsN of unfaLr preMudLce does not substantLaOO\ outZeLJK tKe probatLve vaOue of tKe evLdence.´ United States v.  F. Supp. 3d 466 4 S.D.N.<. 2015. ³TKLs CLrcuLt foOOoZs tKe LncOusLonar\ approacK ZKLcK admLts aOO otKer act evLdence tKat does not serve tKe soOe purpose of sKoZLnJ tKe defendant’s bad cKaracter and tKat Ls neLtKer overO\ preMudLcLaO under RuOe 403 nor LrreOevant under RuOe 402.´ United States v. 63 F.3d 50 56 2d CLr. 2011 LnternaO quotatLon marNs omLtted. ,n JeneraO evLdence Ls admLssLbOe under RuOe 404b ³Lf 1 Lt Ls Lntroduced for a proper purpose 2 Lt Ls reOevant to tKe cKarJed offense 3 Lts preMudLcLaO effect does not substantLaOO\ outZeLJK Lts probatLve vaOue and 4 Ls admLtted ZLtK a OLmLtLnJ LnstructLon Lf requested.´  506 F.3d 10 16- 2d CLr. 200&#

19 x001a;. DLscussLon As Ls cOear
x001a;. DLscussLon As Ls cOear from tKe face of tKe ,ndLctment one of tKe defLnLnJ cKaracterLstLcs of tKe cKarJed druJ-traffLcNLnJ conspLrac\ and reOated Zeapons offenses Ls tKe use of druJ proceeds to fund poOLtLcaO operatLons for tKe NatLonaO Part\ Ln e[cKanJe for protectLon of partLcLpatLnJ traffLcNers LncOudLnJ but not OLmLted to tKe defendant. TKe *overnment ZLOO estabOLsK tKLs deepO\ corrupt  testLmon\ from cooperatLnJ ZLtnesses—LncOudLnJ testLmon\ reJaco-conspLrator statements ZKose admLssLbLOLt\ under tKe Kearsa\ ruOes Ls addressed beOoZ—and campaLJn materLaOs refOectLnJ tKe connectLons betZeen some of tKe members of tKe conspLrac\. Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 18 of 47 BeJLnnLnJ Ln at Oeast 2004 tKe defendant provLded sensLtLve OaZ enforcement LnformatLon to druJ traffLcNers Ln e[cKanJe for pa\ments to KeOp tKem ZLtK druJ sKLpments transLtLnJ Zestern +onduras toZard *uatemaOa. B\ tKat tLme tKe defendant’s brotKer CC-4 Kad been a conJressman representLnJ tKe /empLra Department Ln Zestern +onduras for \ears. As earO\ as 2008 tKe defendant—ZKo Zas aOread\ partLcLpatLnJ Ln muOtL-Kundred-NLOoJram cocaLne sKLpments ZLtK CC-1 a CoOombLan druJ traffLcNer and tKe carteO—e[pressed e[cLtement to C:-3 about tKe prospects of enJaJLnJ Ln addLtLonaO OarJe-scaOe druJ traffLcNLnJ under tKe protectLon of C:-3’s pa\ment Ln 200 of $2 mLOOLon Ln druJ proceeds to CC-3—ZKo Zas eOected s ZLtK and promLses from CC-3 and CC-4 and Ls Lne[trLcabO\ LntertZLned ZLtK tKe defendant’s conduct because Ke motLvated C:-3 to support tKe campaLJns so tKat tKe\ couOd partLcLpate Ln druJ sKLpments toJetKer. OtKer cooperatLnJ ZLtnesses LncOudLnJ RLvera MaradLaJa and C:-1 ZLOO testLf\ tKat t

20 Ke\ aOso used druJ mone\ to support CC-3
Ke\ aOso used druJ mone\ to support CC-3’s campaLJn Ln appro[LmateO\ 200. ,n earO\ 2012 tKe defendant e[pressO\ confLrmed to C:-3 tKat Ke too Zas reO\LnJ on poOLtLcaO protectLon from CC-3 and CC-4 durLnJ a dLscussLon of e[tradLtLon-reOated deveOopments. :LtK KLs brotKer actLnJ as tKe PresLdent of tKe +onduran ConJress tKe defendant e[pressed confLdence to C:-3 tKat Ke ZouOd not be sent to tKe nd tKat C:-3 ZoCC-4 confLrmed tKe onJoLnJ reOatLonsKLp betZeen tKe NatLonaO Part\ and druJ traffLcNLnJ Ln 2013 ZKen Ke asNed C:-3 not to seeN reeOectLon because of medLa scrutLn\ on KLs onJoLnJ crLmLnaO actLvLt\ but promLsed to contLnue to protect C:-3 once Ke Oeft tKe pubOLc reaOm. ,n order to secure tKat protectLon C:-3 spent anotKer $1.5 mLOOLon Ln druJ proceeds on efforts to muster Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 19 of 47 support for CC-4’s presLdentLaO campaLJn Ln Zestern +onduras. CC-4 OLNe CC-3 before KLm Zas eOected PresLdent based at Oeast Ln part on tKe J traffLcNLnJ. ,n 2014taONed to C:-3 about CC-4’s efforts on C:-3’s beKaOf e[pOaLnLnJ tKat a KLJK-ranNLnJ poOLce offLcLaO Zas JoLnJ to be removed based on KLs pubOLc crLtLcLsm of CC-4 and C:-3. Around tKe same tLme as tKLs conversatLon tKe defendant—as a +onduran conJressman—Zas provLdLnJ KeOLcopters to C:-3 to transport cocaLne and druJ mone\ Ln e[cKanJe for betZeen appro[LmateO\ TKus evLdence of KLJK-OeveO poOLtLcaO corruptLon LnvoOvLnJ tKe defendant CC-3 CC-4 and otKer traffLcNers Ls admLssLbOe as dLrect proof because Lt Ls Lne[trLcabO\ LntertZLned ZLtK tKe cKarJed crLmes and necessar\ to compOete tKe stor\ of tKe crLme on trLaO.  22 F. Supp. 3d at 31. TKe evLdence tends to e[pOaLn for e[a

21 mpOe ZK\ tKe co-conspLrators cam
mpOe ZK\ tKe co-conspLrators came toJetKer KoZ tKe\ operated and ZK\ tKere abOe to contLnue crLmes of tKLs maJnLtude unabated for over a decade. United States v. Delligatti No. 15 Cr. 41 2018 :/ 1033242 at 6 S.D.N.<. Feb. 23 201³>:]Kere potentLaO evLdence e[pOaLns tKe deveOopment of tKe LOOeJaO reOatLonsKLp . . . and e[pOaLns tKe mutuaO trust tKat e[Lsted betZeen tKe coconspLrators Lt ZLOO be pOaLnO\ admLssLbOe.´ LnternaO quotatLon marNs omLtted cf. United States v. Robles 13 F.3d 51 1 :/ 002 at  5tK CLr. 1 fLndLnJ evLdence suffLcLent Ln druJ-traffLcNLnJ case ZKere Mur\ couOd Lnfer tKat defendant ³Lntend>ed] to pa\ brLbes or otKerZLse provLde protectLon to tKe >druJ-traffLcNLnJ orJanL]atLon] b\ fLndLnJ out ZKetKer members of tKe orJanL]atLon Zere tarJets of poOLce LnvestLJatLons´. CorruptLon evLdence Ls aOso necessar\ to KeOp tKe Mur\ understand tKe crLmLnaO ’s Februar\ 2014 recorded meetL,n tKe aOternatLve and for sLmLOar reasons tKe corruptLon evLdence Ls admLssLbOe pursuant Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 20 of 47 to RuOe 404b because Lt LOOustrates tKe broader crLmLnaO pOan of tKe defendant CC-3 CC-4 and otKers to use druJ traffLcNLnJ to KeOp assert poZer and controO Ln +onduras and Ls probatLve of tKe defendant’s motLve and Lntent Ln MoLnLnJ tKe conspLrac\  to enrLcK KLmseOf and KLs famLO\ ZKLOe enKancLnJ KLs poZer. See United States v. Pipola 83 F.3d 556 566 2d CLr. 16 notLnJ tKat evLdence

22 Ls admLssLbOe crLmLnaO reOatLonsKLp dev
Ls admLssLbOe crLmLnaO reOatLonsKLp deveOoped´ and ³KeOp tKe Mur\ understand tKe basLs for tKe co-conspLrators’ reOatLonsKLp of mutuaO trust´. TKus evLdence of narcotLcs-reOated corruptLon LnvoOvLnJ tKe defendant and KLs co-conspLrators Ls FLnaOO\ tKLs evLdence Ls not unduO\ preMudLcLaO reOatLve to otKer proof tKe *overnment e[pects to offer. TKe defendant’s druJ sKLpments traversed +onduran Zaters and aLrspace based on LnformatLon from tKe +onduran mLOLtar\ and poOLce. +onduran poOLce escorted KLs cocaLne so tKat Lt ZouOd not be seL]ed. TKe defendant tKe poOLce and otKer securLt\ personneO partLcLpated Ln tKese actLvLtLes ZKLOe KeavLO\ armed LncOudLnJ at tLmes ZLtK mLOLtar\-Jrade Zeapons. And tKese actLvLtLes LnvoOved e[tensLve vLoOence. AccordLnJO\ evLdence of tKe fuOO breadtK of tKe corruptLon mes Ls not barred b\ RuOe 403. bOe Under tKe SeveraO +onduran offLcLaOs taONed to C:-3 reJardLnJ tKe membersKLp status and functLonLnJ of tKe druJ-traffLcNLnJ conspLrac\ and tKeLr MoLnt efforts ZLtK tKe defendant to Lncrease tKeLr poZer Ln +onduras. EvLdence of tKese statements Ls eLtKer not Kearsa\ e[empted under tKe Kearsa\ ruOes or botK and Kas sLJnLfLcant probatLve vaOue for tKe reasons set fortK above Ln SectLon Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 21 of 47 TKe *overnment respectfuOO\ submLts tKat tKe foOOoZLnJ statemen³Statement >number]´ are admLssLbOe tKrouJK testLmon\ of C:-3:,n appro[LmateO\ 200 CC-3 asNed C:-3 for fLnancLaO and OoJLstLcaO support for tKe NatLonaO Part\ campaLJns of CC-3 ZKo Zas campaLJnLnJ for tKe +presLdenc\ and CC-4 ZKo Zas at tKat tLme runnLnJ for reeOectLon Ln tKe +onduran ,n appro[LmateO\ 200 CC-3 and CC-4 confLrmed to C:-

23 3 receLpt of tKe fLrst $1 mLOOLon and tK
3 receLpt of tKe fLrst $1 mLOOLon and tKat C:-3’s reOatLve ZouOd be appoLnted to a poOLtLcaO posLtLon Lf tKe NatLonaO Part\ campaLJns Zere successfuO. ,n appro[LmateO\ Oate 200 CC-4 asNed C:-3 to KeOp JatKer support for KLs efforts to become PresLdent of tKe +onduran ConJress ZKLcK C:-3 dLd b\ pa\LnJ brLbes and CC-4 Oater reLterated tKat C:-3 nJ KLm for KLs efforts. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2013 CC-4 Lnstructed C:-3 not to seeN reeOectLon because of medLa reports reJardLnJ C:-3’s druJ-traffLcNLnJ actLvLtLes Zarned tKat Ke couOd not contLnue to protect C:-3 Lf C:-3 remaLned Ln offLce and asNed C:-3 to support KLs campaLJn ,n appro[LmateO\ 2016 CC-5 a cabLnet-OeveO mLnLster for CC-4 toOd C:-3 tKat CC-4 Zas JoLnJ to remove C:-3’s reOatLve from KLs Jovernment posLtLon because of LncreasLnJ scrutLn\ reOated to druJ traffLcNLnJ but LndLcated tKat CC-4 ZouOd protect C:-3 from OaZ enforcement Lf C:-3 supported CC-4’s reeOectLon campaLJn. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2018 CC-6 a member of tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce and cousLn of tKe defendant caOOed C:-3 and LndLcated tKat CC-4 Zanted to NnoZ Lf Lt Zas true tKat C:-3 Kad surrendered. AppOLcabOe /aZ RuOe 801d2E of tKe FederaO RuOes of EvLdence provLdes Ln reOevant part tKat ³>a] statement Ls not Kearsa\ Lf . . . tKe statement Ls offered aJaLnst an opposLnJ part\ and Zas made b\ tKe part\’s co-conspLrator durLnJ and Ln furtKerance of tKe conspLrac\.´ To admLt a statement pursuant to tKLs RuOe tKe Court must fLnd tZo facts b\ a preponderance of tKe evLdence: first Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 22 of 47 a conspLrac\ tKat LncOuded tKe decOarant and tKe defendant e[Lsted and  tKat tKe statement Zas mad

24 e durLnJ tKe course and Ln furtKerance o
e durLnJ tKe course and Ln furtKerance of tKat conspLrac\. Bourjaily v. United States 483 Once a conspLrac\ Ls sKoZn to e[Lst tKe ³evLdence suffLcLent to OLnN anotKer defendant to Lt need not be overZKeOmLnJ´ and ³tKe µLn furtKerance’ requLrement of RuOe 801d2E Ls satLsfLed´ ZKen for e[ampOe ³a co-conspLrator Ls apprLsed of tKe proJress of tKe conspLrac\ or ZKen tKe statements are desLJned to Lnduce KLs assLstance.´ United States v. 82 F.2d 386 30 2d CLr. 186 LnternaO quotatLon marNs omLtted. Statements betZeen co-conspLrators tKat ³provLde reassurance serve to maLntaLn trust and coKesLveness amonJ tKem or Lnform eacK otKer of tKe current status of tKe conspLrac\´ furtKer tKe conspLracUnited States v. Simmons, 23 F.2d 34 45 2d CLr. 188 as do statements ³tKat apprLse a co-conspLrator of tKe proJress of tKe Under RuOe 804 Lf a decOarant Ls ³unavaLOabOe´ tKere Ls an e[ceptLon to tKe Kearsa\ ruOe a reasonabOe person Ln tKe decOarant’s posLtLon ZouOd Kave made >tKe statement] onO\ Lf tKe person beOLeved Lt to be true because ZKen made Lt Zas so contrar\ to tKe decOarant’s proprLetar\ or pecunLar\ Lnterest or Kad so Jreat a tendenc\ to LnvaOLdate tKe decOarant’s cOaLm aJaLnst someone eOse or to e[pose tKe decOarant to cLvLO or crLmLnaO OLabLOLt\ and Ls supported b\ corroboratLnJ cLrcumstances tKat cOearO\ LndLcate Lts trustZortKLness Lf Lt Ls offered Ln a crLmLnaO case as one tKat tends to e[pose tKe decOarant to crLmLnaO OLabLOLt\. Fed. R. EvLd. 804b3. TKLs ruOe ³Ls founded on tKe commonsense n

25 otLon tKat reasonabOe peopOe eve
otLon tKat reasonabOe peopOe even reasonabOe peopOe ZKo are not especLaOO\ Konest tend not to maNe seOf-LncuOpator\ statements Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 23 of 47 Williamson v. United StatesTo satLsf\ RuOe 804b3 tKe proponent of tKe statement must sKoZ b\ a preponderance of tKe evLdence: ³1 tKat tKe decOarant Ls unavaLOabOe as a ZLtness 2 tKat tKe statement Ls suffLcLentO\ reOLabOe to Zarrant an Lnference tKat a reasonabOe man Ln >tKe decOarant’s] posLtLon ZouOd not Kave made tKe statement unOess Ke beOLeved Lt to be true and 3 tKat corroboratLnJ cLrcumstances cOearO\ LndLcate tKe trustZortKLness of tKe statement.´ United States v. Wexler 522 F.3d 14 202 2d CLr. 2008 LnternaO quotatLon marNs omLtted. A decOarant Ls unavaLOabOe for purposes of RuOe 804 Lf as reOevant Kere tKe decOarant Ls ³e[empted from testLf\LnJ about tKe subMect matter of tKe decOarant’s statement because tKe court ruOes tKat a prLvLOeJe appOLes´ Fed. R. EvLd. 804a1 or ³Ls absent from tKe trLaO or KearLnJ and tKe statement’s proponent Kas not been abOe b\ process or otKer reasonabOe means to procure tKe decOarant’s attendance or testLmon\´ ³A statement ZLOO satLsf\ RuOe 804b3’s requLrement tKat Lt µtended’ to subMect tKe decOarant to crLmLnaO OLabLOLt\ Lf Lt ZouOd be probatLve Ln a trLaO aJaLnst tKe decOarant.´ v. Persico 645 F.3d 85 102 2d CLr. 2011 LnternaO quotatLon marNs omLtted. Moreover a t tKe LncrLmLnatLnJ statement subMects KLm to LmmedLate crLmLnaO prosecutLon&

26 #x000f;´ but Lnstead tKat tKe Â
#x000f;´ but Lnstead tKat tKe ³LncrLmLnatLnJ statement suffLcLentO\ tended to subMect tKe decOarant to crLmLnaO OLabLOLt\ so tKat a reasonabOe man Ln KLs posLtLon ZouOd not Kave made tKe statement unOess Ke beOLeved Lt to be true.´ United States v. Lang 58 F.2d 2  2d CLr. 18 LnternaO quotatLon marNs and cLtatLon omLtted. FLnaOO\ tKe Second CLrcuLt requLres corroboratLon of botK tKe decOarant’s and tKe statement’s trustZortKLness. United States v. Doyle 130 F.3d 523 543-44 2d CLr. 1. Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 24 of 47 Statements made to co-conspLrators not Ln response to questLonLnJ and not made Ln coercLve atmospKeres are suffLcLentO\ reOLabOe for purposes of tKLs RuOe. See, e.g.United States v.DLscussLon TKe Statements b\ +onduran offLcLaOs to C:-3 are reOevant and admLssLbOe under tKe Kearsa\ ruOes. FLrst Lnsofar as tKe Statements refOect requests to C:-3 b\ CC-3 and CC-4 or a questLon b\ CC-6 Ln Statement 6 tKe\ are not Kearsa\ and are tKerefore admLssLbOe. See, e.g.United States v. Kuthuru 665 F. App’[ 34 38 2d CLr. 2016 ³QuestLons and commands aordLnarLO\ not Kearsa\ . . . .´. Second as dLscussed Ln more detaLO beOoZ tKe Statements are admLssLbOe Ln tKeLr entLret\ pursu Pursuant to RuOe 801d2E Under RuOe 801d2E tKe *overnment ZLOO estabOLsK b\ a preponderance of tKe evLdence tKat tKe defendant CC-3 CC-4 CC-5 and CC-6 Zere members of tKe cKarJed druJ-traffLcNLnJ conspLrac\ as Z

27 eOO as a reOated conspLrac\ to OeveraJe
eOO as a reOated conspLrac\ to OeveraJe druJ traffLcNLnJ to maLntaLn and enKance tKeLr poOLtLcaO poZer and tKe controO of tKe NatLonaO Part\ Ln +onduras. See United States v. Russo 302 F.3d 3 45 2d CLr. 2002 ³>T]Ke obMectLve of tKe MoLnt venture tKat MustLfLes deemLnJ tKe speaNer as tKe aJent of tKe defendant need not be crLmLnaO at aOO.´. TKe defendant toOd C:-3 as earO\ as 2008 tKat Ke Koped to Lncrease KLs druJ-traffLcNLnJ actLvLtLes ZLtK protectLon from CC-3 and CC-4 foOOoZLnJ tKe 200 presLdentLaO eOectLon. C:-1 C:-3 and RLvera MaradLaJa—eacK of ZKom aOso enJaJed Ln druJ-reOated actLvLtLes ZLtK tKe defendant—ZLOO e[pOaLn tKat tKe\ used druJ proceeds to support CC-3’s 200 presLdentLaO campaLJn Ln order to obtaLn protectLon from CC-3 and KLs assocLates. TKe *overnment ZLOO estabOLsK at trLaO tKat CC-3 deOLvered on tKat Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 25 of 47 promLse. For e[ampOe C:-3 ZLOO testLf\ tKat Ln appro[LmateO\ 2010 after C:-3 dLscussed tKe Lssue ZLtK tKe defendant and tKen CC-3 CC-3 KeOped depOo\ +onduran mLOLtar\ forces to tKe *uatemaOan border to deter LncursLons aJaLnst tKe terrLtor\ tKat C:-3 and tKe defendant Zere usLnJ for druJ sKLpments b\ a *uatemaOan druJ traffLcNer named -aLro TKe *overnment ZLOO aOso estabOLsK tKat tKe defendant and CC-4 Zere co-conspLrators. For e[ampOe tKe defendant toOd C:-3 Ln 2008 and 200 tKat Ke e[pected CC-4 ZouOd be Ln a posLtLon to protect tKem Ln tKe +onduran ConJress and Oater as PresLdent. ,n 2014 tKe defendant toOd C:-3 tKat a KLJK-ranNLnJ poOLce offLcLaO ZouOd be moved Ln response to KLs pubOLc statements tKat CC-4 Zas protectLnJ C:-3. C:-1 C:- cooperatLnJ ZLtness—a former member of tKe +o

28 nduran NatLonaO PoOLce descrLbed beOoZ L
nduran NatLonaO PoOLce descrLbed beOoZ Ln SectLon ,,, as C:-4—ZLOO descrLbe CC-6’s membersKLp Ln tKe conspLrac\. FLnaOO\ CC-5’s 2018 statement to C:-3 estabOLsKes KLs membersKLp Ln tKe conspLracLes ZLtK tKe defendant because CC-4 summoned C:-3 to tKe meetLnJ a mLnLster appoLnted prevLousO\ b\ CC-4. TKe statements at Lssue Zere aOso Ln furtKerance of tKe conspLrac\. Statements 1 2 and 3 b\ CC-3 and CC-4 LnvoOved requests for funds and poOLtLcaO support combLned ZLtK promLses of protectLon and otKer favors tKat Zere desLJned to Lnduce C:-3 to act on tKeLr beKaOf Ln connectLon ZLtK tKe 200 eOectLons ZKLcK Zere aOso centraO to C:-3’s onJoLnJ dLaOoJue ZLtK tKe defendant reJardLnJ post-eOectLon druJ traffLcNLnJ. United States v. Gigante 166 F.3d 5 82 2d CLr. 1 fLndLnJ ³Ln furtKerance´ requLrement met ZKere statements ³Lnduce a coconspLrator’s assLstance´ United States v. Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp. 81 F.2d 1181 11 2d CLr. 18 fLndLnJ ³Ln furtKerance´ requLrement met ZKere statements ³prompt tKe OLstener to respond Ln a Za\ tKat facLOLtates tKe carr\LnJ out of crLmLnaO actLvLt\´ LnternaO quotatLon marNs omLtted Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 26 of 47 United States v. Persico 832 F.2d 05 16 2d CLr. 18 fLndLnJ ³Ln furtKerance´ requLrement met ZKere statements ³soOLcLted >OLstener’s] assLstance´. /LNe Statements 1 2 and 3 Statement 4 b\ CC-4 Ln 2013 conve\ed a request to C:-3 for campaLJn for tKe +ondur\ear. TKLs tLme KoZever CC-4 made KLs promL

29 se of protectLon contLnJent on C:-3 Oeav
se of protectLon contLnJent on C:-3 OeavLnJ offLce Ln response to Lncreased scrutLn\ on KLs druJ traffLcNLnJ. TKus Ln Statement 4 CC-4 souJKt to Lnduce actLon b\ C:-3 and adMust tKe operatLons of tKe conspLrac\ to protect tKe Jroup. See United States v. Eisen 4 F.2d ³>A]cts or statements desLJned to Ln furtKerance of tKat conspLrac\.´. ,n 2016 Ln connectLon ZLtK Statement 5 CC-5 Lnformed C:-3 tKat due to addLtLonaO pubOLc crLtLcLsm CC-4 Zas JoLnJ to remove C:-3’s reOatLve from a Jovernment posLtLon tKat tKe reOatLve obtaLned based on C:-3’s prevLous druJ-derLved brLbes to CC-3 and CC-4. CC-5 aOso promLsed C:-3 tKat CC-4 ZouOd protect KLm Ln e[cKanJe for support of CC-4’s 201 presLdentLaO reeOectLon campaLJn. As a resuOt Statement 5 furtKered tKe conspLrac\ because CC-5 conve\ed LnformatLon about tKe status of tKe conspLrac\ cKaOOenJes faced b\ otKer co-conspLrators and CC-4’s strateJ\ for avoLdLnJ detectLon. See Persico 832 F.2d at 16 fLndLnJ ³Ln furtKerance´ requLrement met ZKere statements ³Lnformed >OLstener] of tKe LdentLt\ and actLvLtLes of KLs coconspLrators´  2018 :/ 1033242 at 6 ³>S]tatements tKat conve\ LnformatLon about otKers Ln tKe same orJanL]ed crLme s\ndLcate are consLdered to be durLnJ and Ln S.D.N.<. Apr. 1 2014 fLndLnJ ³Ln furtKerance´ requLrement met ZKere ³tKe statements LncOuded a dLscussLon as to tKe e[tent tKe >druJ-traffLcNLnJ conspLrac\] Kad been compromLsed and ZKLcK members couOd stLOO be trusted´. FLnaOO\ Ln Statement 6 CC-6 asNed C:-3 on beKaOf of Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 27 of 47 CC-4 ZKetKer C:-3 Kad surrendered Ln

30 tKe UnLted States and C:-3 conf
tKe UnLted States and C:-3 confLrmed tKat Ke Zas stLOO Ln +onduras. See United States v. Delva No. 12 Cr. 802 2014 :/ 4460360 at 10 S.D.N.<. Sept. 10 2014 ³Statements made to KLde tKe e[Lstence or actLvLtLes of a conspLrac\ are made Ln furtKerance of Lt.´. CC-6’s LnquLr\ furtKered tKe conspLrac\ b\ obtaLnLnJ LnformatLon for KLmseOf CC-4 and otKers reJardLnJ C:-3’s status and ZKetKer C:-3 Kad compromLsed tKe conspLrac\ b\ cooperatLnJ ZLtK OaZ enforcement. Pursuant to RuOe 804b3 Statements 1 tKrouJK 6 are aOso admLssLbOe under RuOe 804b3 because tKe decOarants are unavaLOabOe and tKeLr remarNs ZouOd be probatLve of tKeLr JuLOt Zere tKe\ to stand trLaO on druJ traffLcNLnJ or mone\ OaunderLnJ cKarJes. CC-3 CC-4 CC-5 and CC-6 are Oocated abroad outsLde tKe *overnment’s subpoena poZer and ZouOd LnvoNe tKe FLftK Amendment Lf tKe\ Zere questLoned under oatK reJardLnJ tKese actLvLtLes. See United States v. Savoca 335 F. Supp. 2d 385 30 S.D.N.<. 2004 ³>T]Ke µunavaLOabLOLt\’ component Ls estabOLsKed b\ tKe fact tKat >tKe decOarant] Ls e[pected to LnvoNe KLs FLftK Amendment prLvLOeJe.´ see also United States v. Ortiz 62 F. Supp. 2d 565 53 S.D.N.<. 2013 fLndLnJ ZLtness unavaLOabOe ZKere Oocated outsLde UnLted States at tLme of trLaO. Statements 1 tKrouJK 6 Zere aJaLnst tKe penaO Lnterest of tKe decOarants because tKe Statements ³LmpOLcated >tKe decOarants] Ln druJ actLvLt\´ and eacK decOarant ³ZouOd not Kave made tKe statement unOess Ke beOLeved Lt to be true.´ United States v. Dupree 80 F.3d 6

31 2 80 2d CLr. see also Or
2 80 2d CLr. see also Ortiz 62 F. Supp. 2d at 53. TKe statements are aOso suffLcLentO\ reOLabOe because tKe\ Zere made Ln confLdence to C:-3 ³a person ZKom tKe decOarant>s] beOLeve>d] >Zas] an aOO\ not a OaZ enforcement offLcLaO.´ United States v. Sasso 5 F.3d 341 34 2d CLr. 15. Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 28 of 47 Moreover tKe Statements do not refOect ³effort to sKLft bOame´ aZa\ from tKe decOarants and tKere Ls no possLbLOLt\ tKat tKe\ ZouOd Kave uttered tKese remarNs ³soOeO\ to curr\ favor ZLtK tKe autKorLtLes.´ see also Dupree 80 F.3d at 80 fLndLnJ suffLcLent trustZortKLness ZKere ceLved aOO\ and dLd not attempt to sKLft bOame. FLnaOO4 CC-5 and CC-6 aOO occupLed KLJKer posLtLons Ln tKe +onduran Jovernment tKan C:-3 tKese decOarants Kad ³no need to attempt to Lmpress >tKeLr] subordLnate>]´ C:-3 b\ maNLnJ ³seOf-LncrLmLnatLnJ statements ZLtKout a foundatLon of trutK.´ United States v. Gupta 4 F.3d 111 tements 1 tKrouJK 6 are aOso admLssLbOe under RuOe 804b3. EvLdence of Statements b\ a Member of tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOCC-6 Zas a KLJK-ranNLnJ offLcer Ln tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce and Ke Ls a cousLn of tKe defendant and CC-4. DurLnJ tKe course of CC-6’s partLcLpatLon Ln tKe conspLrac\ ZLtK tKe defendant and otKers CC-6 spoNe to a co-conspLrator Ln tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce ³C:-4´ about tKe roOes Ln tKe conspLrac\ pOa\ed b\ tKe defendant CC-4 C:-1 and C:-3. TestLmon\ from C:-4 reJardLnJ tKese statements b\ CC-6 Ls admLssLbOe under RuOes 801d�

32 b;2E and C:-4 me
b;2E and C:-4 met CC-6 Ln tKe earO\ 10s ZKen tKe\ botK attended tKe +onduran poOLce academ\ and tKe\ sta\ed Ln cOose contact after tKat. C:-4 started to partLcLpate Ln druJ traffLcNLnJ Ln +onduras Ln appro[LmateO\ 2004 prLncLpaOO\ b\ KeOpLnJ to provLde securLt\ for druJ sKLpments. PrLor to 200 CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat tKe defendant and CC-4 Zere KLs cousLns and Ke taONed to C:-4 perLodLcaOO\ about tKe poOLtLcaO poZer tKe defendant and CC-4 Zere amassLnJ Ln tKe NatLonaO ents of Copán and /empLra amonJ otKer pOaces. DurLnJ tKe same Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 29 of 47 tLmeframe CC-6 and C:-4 dLscusseat Oeast tZo ZKo ZLOO testLf\ as cooperatLnJ ZLtnesses at trLaO,n appro[LmateO\ 2008 CC-6 and C:-4 attended a poOLce traLnLnJ toJetKer. DurLnJ tKe traLnLnJ CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat Ke Zas about to ZorN on a druJ sKLpment. AOtKouJK tKe\ dLd not dLscuss tKe sKLpment furtKer at tKat tLme C:-4 aOso KeOped provLde securLt\ for tKe same cocaLne Ooad at tKe dLrectLon of C:-1. AfterZards CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat Ke Kad seen C:-4 durLnJ tKe sKLpment and tKe tZo men beJan to dLscuss tKeLr crLmLnaO actLvLtLes Ln more detaLO. CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat tKe defendant Zas protectLnJ C:-1 Ln e[cKanJe for pa\ments. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2010 C:-4 Zas assLJned to ZorN at tKe Keadquarters of tKe +onduran NatLonaO PoOLce Ln TeJucLJaOpa. After C:-4 reported to tKe neZ posLtLon CC-6 asNed KLm to provLde LnformatLon reJardLnJ LnvestLJatLons and operatLons tKat ZouOd be used to protect druJ sKLpments for tKe defendant and C:-3. CC-6 saLd tKat C:-3 Zas stLOO usLnJ druJ proceeds to pa\ tKe defendant ZKo Ln turn Zas usLnJ some of tKe mone\ to KeOp fLnance campaLJns for CC-4. CC- 6 aOso toOd C:-4 tK

33 at tKe defendant and CC-4 ZouOd be abOe
at tKe defendant and CC-4 ZouOd be abOe to protect C:-4 pa\ KLm and KeOp KLm ZLtK promotLons. C:-4 aJreed to do ZKat CC-6 asNed and Ke provLded sensLtLve OaZ enforcement LnformatLon to CC-6 more tKan 10 tLmes Ln e[cKanJe for pa\ments of betZeen $300 ,n appro[LmateO\ 2012 C:-4 JreZ concerned after tKe +onduran ConJress passed OeJLsOatLon tKat removed a pree[LstLnJ constLtutLonaO barrLer to tKe e[tradLtLon of +onduran natLonaOs to tKe UnLted States to face druJ-traffLcNLnJ cKarJes. C:-4 asNed CC-6 about tKe sLtuatLon. CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat L tKe neZ e[tradLtLon OaZ Ln +onduras Zas enacted Ln response to pressure from tKe UnLted States and Lntended to appease tKe U.S. Jovernment and LL tKe Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 30 of 47 defendant toOd CC-6 tKat ZKLOe e[tradLtLon ma\ be avaLOabOe Ln tKeor\ tKe\ ZouOd not be e[tradLted. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2013 or 2014 C:-4 asNed CC-6 for assLstance Ln obtaLnLnJ a promotLon. C:-4 beOLeved tKe promotLon ZouOd requLre conJressLonaO approvaO ZKLcK Ke tKouJKt ZouOd be dLffLcuOt to obtaLn. C:-4 asNed CC-6 to taON to CC-4 about tKe sLtuatLon. CC-6 saLd tKat Ke ZouOd taON to tKe defendant fLrst and asN tKe defendant to speaN to CC-4 on beKaOf of C:-4. C:-4 subsequentO\ receLved tKe promotLon and e[pressed JratLtude to CC-6. AOso Ln appro[LmateO\ 2014 after CC-4 became PresLdent CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat CC-4 Zas consLderLnJ eOLmLnatLnJ e[tradLtLon because CC-4 Zas concerned tKat tKe UnLted States ZouOd submLt an e[tradLtLon request ,n appro[LmateO\ 2016 C:-4 eOected to surrender voOuntarLO\ based on pendLnJ cKarJes of C:-4’s pOan Ke tracNed CC-6 doZn b\ approacKLnJ KLs ZLfe at cKurcK. C:-4 subsequentO\ met ZLtK CC-6 and CC-6 ZorNLn

34 J to avoLd e[tradLtLon of tKe defendant&
J to avoLd e[tradLtLon of tKe defendant tKe\ couOd not protect C:-4 because of CC-4’s Lnterest Ln pursuLnJ reeOectLon. CC-6 aOso stated tKat C:-4 couOd not taON about tKe defendant CC-4 or CC-6 Ln tKe UnLted States because tKe sLtuatLon Zas beLnJ KandOed at tKe +onduran presLdentLaO OeveO and Zas tKerefore too sensLtLvKe paLd C:-4 appro[LmateO\ $500. TKe *overnment respectfuOO\ submLts tKat tKe foOOoZLnJ statements referred to beOoZ as ³Statement >number]´ are admLssLbOe tKrouJK testLmon\ of C:-4:,n appro[LmateO\ 2008 CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat tKe defendant Zas protectLnJ C:-1 Ln e[cKanJe for pa\ments of druJ proceeds. Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 31 of 47 ,n appro[LmateO\ 2010 CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat L CC-6 Zanted access to sensLtLve OaZ enforcement LnformatLon to KeOp protect druJ sKLpments LnvoOvLnJ tKe defendant and C:-3 LL C:-3 Zas usLnJ druJ proceeds to pa\ tKe defendant ZKo Zas usLnJ some of tKe mone\ to KeOp fLnance CC-4’s presLdentLaO campaLJn and LLL tKe defendant and CC-4 ZouOd protect C:-4 pa\ KLm and KeOp KLm ZLtK promotLons Ln e[cKanJe for LnformatLon. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2012 CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat L tKe neZ +onduran e[tradLtLon OaZ Zas enacted Ln response to pressure from tKe UnLted States and Lntended to appease tKe U.S. Jovernment and LL tKe defendant toOd CC-6 tKat ZKLOe e[tradLtLon ma\ be avaLOabOe oOd C:-4 tKat Ke ZouOd speaN to tKe defendant :-4 obtaLn a promotLon. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2014 CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat CC-4 Zas consLderLnJ eOLmLnatLnJ e[tradLtLon because CC-4 Zas concerned tKat tKe UnLted States ZouOd submLt an ,n appro[LmateO\ 2016 CC-6 toOd C:-4 tKat L CC-4 Zas ZorNLnJ to p

35 revent tKe defendant from beLnJ e[tradLt
revent tKe defendant from beLnJ e[tradLted but couOd not protect C:-4 because of CC-4’s Lnterest Ln pursuLnJ reeOectLon and LL C:-4 couOd not taON about tKe defendant CC-4 or CC-DLscussLon Pursuant to RuOe 801d2E As dLscussed above tKe *overnment ZLOO estabOLsK tKat tKe defendant and CC-6 Zere co-conspLrators tKrouJK testLmon\ from C:-1 C:-3 and C:-4. CC-6’s statements to C:-4 furtKered botK tKe druJ-traffLcNLnJ conspLrac\ and tKe conspLrac\ betZeen tKe defendant CC-4 CC-6 a cousLn of tKe defendant and CC-4 and otKers to OeveraJe druJ traffLcNLnJ for tKe purpose of maLntaLnLnJ and enKancLnJ tKeLr poOLtLcaO poZer and tKe poZer of tKe NatLonaO Part\ Ln TKrouJK Statement 1 CC-6 toOd C:-4 Ln appro[LmateO\ 2008—around tKe same tLme tKat tKe defendant Zas taONLnJ about settLnJ up a druJ-traffLcNLnJ partnersKLp ZLtK C:-3—tKat tKe Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 32 of 47 defendant Zas protectLnJ C:-1 tKat C:-1 Zas usLnJ druJ proceeds to pa\ tKe defendant and tKat tKe defendant Zas usLnJ some of tKose taLnted funds to support tKe NatLonaO Part\. TKus Statement 1 furtKered tKe conspLrac\ b\ LnformLnJ C:-4 ZKo Zas ZorNLnJ ZLtK C:-1 at tKe tLme of tKe LdentLtLes and roOes pOa\ed b\ co-conspLrators. ,n Statement 2 CC-6 provLded C:-4 ZLtK an update about tKe status of tKe conspLrac\ LncOudLnJ addLtLonaO LnformatLon about C:-3’s actLvLtLes. +e aOso faZ enforcement LnformatLon to be used Ln support of druJ traffLcNLnJ ZKLcK Zas Lntended to Lnduce C:-4 to assLst CC-6 and otKer members of tKe conspLrac\. ,n appro[LmateO\ 2014 Ln Statement 4 CC-6 aJreed to speaN to tKe defen

36 dant about obtaLnLnJ assLstance from CC-
dant about obtaLnLnJ assLstance from CC-4 reOated to a promotLon for C:-4 ZKLcK C:-4 Zas Oater Jranted. Statement 4 furtKered tKe conspLrac\ because Lt confLrmed tKat tKe conspLrac\ Zas Lntact and Kad access to CC-4 ZKo Zas tKe neZ PresLdent of +onduras assured C:-4 tKat KLs co-conspLrators Zere ZLOOLnJ to KeOp KLm based on KLs contLnued efforts to provLde OaZ enforcement LnformatLon to facLOLtate druJ sKLpments and advanced tKe obMectLves of otKer co-conspLrators b\ appeasLnJ C:-4 so tKat Ke ZouOd contLnue to assLst tKem. Statements 3 5 and 6 LnvoOved CC-6 conve\LnJ LnformatLon to C:-4 at varLous tLmes betZeen 2012 and 2016 about tKe status of +onduran e[tradLtLon poOLc\ ZKLcK tKreatened to compromLse tKe conspLrac\ and CC-4’s efforts to protect tKem. CC-6 aOso used Statement 6 Ln 2016 to furtKer tKe conspLrac\ b\ LnstructLnJ C:-4 not to cooperate aJaLnst otKer co-conspLrators LncOudLnJ KLmseOf tKe defendantfore tKe Statements are admLssL Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 33 of 47 Pursuant to RuOe 804b3 As e[pOaLned above CC-6 Ls unavaLOabOe for purposes of RuOe 804b3 because Ke Ls Oocated abroad and ZouOd LnvoNe tKe FLftK Amendment Ln response to questLonLnJ. +Ls statements to C:-4 Zere aJaLnst penaO Lnterest because Ke LmpOLcated KLmseOf tKe defendant and otKers Ln druJ-traffLcNLnJ actLvLtLes and reOated corruptLon. CC-6’s statements bear suffLcLent LndLcLa of reOLabLOLt\ because Ke spoNe Ln prLvate and dLd not appear to sKLft bOame  80 F.3d at 80 and Ke made tKe statements to a coOOeaJue Ke Kad NnoZn sLnce tKe earO\ 10s settLnJ´ Zas anotKer consLderatLon suJJestLnJ reOLabLOLt\

37 . TKe Statements ZLOO aOso be c
. TKe Statements ZLOO aOso be corroborated Ln part b\ testLmon\ from C:-1 and C:-3. TKerefore CC-6’s statements to C:-4 are admLssLbOe pursuant to RuOe 804b3.cLpatLon Ln TZo DruJ-ReOated MTKe defendant conspLred ZLtK C:-3 and otKers to Kave tZo druJ-traffLcNLnJ rLvaOs murdered. TestLmon\ from C:-3 reJardLnJ tKese LncLdents Ls admLssLbOe as dLrect evLdence reOated to Counts One TZo and TKree and Ln tKe aOternatLve pursuant to RuOe 404b. Under K respect to tKe cocaLne-LmportatLon conspLrac\ cKarJed Ln Count One and tKe Zeapons offenses cKarJed Ln Counts TZo and TKree As e[pOaLned Ln Part V,,,.A of tKe BacNJround SectLon Ln appro[LmateO\ 2011 C:-3 taONed to tKe defendant about an emerJLnJ rLvaOr\ ZLtK VLctLm-1 Ln tKe Copán Department. ,n response tKe defendant offered to asN CC- a KLJK-ranNLnJ member of tKe +onduran NatLonaO Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 34 of 47 PoOLce to murder VLctLm-1. ,n a subsequent meetLnJ tKe defendant toOd C:-3 tKat CC- Kad aJreed to carr\ out tKe murder and Zas ZorNLnJ ZLtK otKer poOLce to pOan Lt. After tKe murder tKe defendant confLrmed tKat CC- Kad orcKestrated tKe NLOOLnJ. Appro[LmateO\ tZo \ears Oater Ln 2013 C:-3 and tKe defendant aJreed tKat VLctLm-2 needed to be murdered to prevent KLm from cooperatLnJ ZLtK OaZ enforcement ZLtK respect to tKeLr actLvLtLes Ln tKe CoOón Department on tKe AtOantLc coast Ln eastern +onduras ZKere tKe\ Zere receLvLnJ druJ sKLpments and transportLnJ tKe cocaLne to tKe Copán Department near tKe border ZLtK *uatemaOa. FoOOoZLnJ tKat conversatLon C:-3 ZorNed ZLtK BOanco Ruí] to Kave VLctLm-2 murdered ZKLOe VLctLm-DLscussLo

38 n EvLdence of tKe defendant’s roOe Ln
n EvLdence of tKe defendant’s roOe Ln tKese tZo murders Ls probatLve of KLs partLcLpatLon Ln NatLonaO PoOLce tKat tKe defendant reOLed upon Ln connectLon ZLtK tKe conspLrac\ and tKe Jreat OenJtKs to ZKLcK tKe defendant Zas ZLOOLnJ to Jo Ln order to protect KLmseOf and KLs co-conspLrators—as corroborated b\ CC-2’s ZarnLnJ to C:-5 Ln appro[LmateO\ 200 tKat tKe defendant Zas ZLOOLnJ to NLOO and Kad tKe means to do Lt see infra Part V.B. See Ulbricht  F. Supp. 3d at 485 reasonLnJ tKat ³murder-for-KLre evLdence Ls dLrectO\ reOevant to provLnJ tKe eOements of tKe narcotLcs offense´ because ³tKe conte[t of eacK of tKe aOOeJed soOLcLtatLons LnvoOves narcotLcs deaOers´ see also United States v. Gadsden 300 F. App’[ 108 110 2d CLr. 2008 affLrmLnJ admLssLon of ³past vLoOent acts´ because ³sucK evLdence KeOps to e[pOaLn tKe mutuaO trust tKat e[Lsted betZeen coconspLrators´ LnternaO quotatLon marNs omLtted United States v.  86 F.2d 122 130 2d CLr. 18 reasonLnJ tKat a ³pOot to sLOence ZLtnesses furtKer>ed] Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 35 of 47 tKe JoaOs´ of a narcotLcs conspLrac\ \ deemed to Kave been performed as overt acts Ln furtKerance of and tKus are dLrect evLdence of an aOOeJed druJ dLstrLbutLon conspLrac\.´. TKe defendant’s partLcLpatLon Ln tKese murders ZLtK druJ-traffLcNLnJ co-EvLdence reOated to tKese murders Ls aOso probatLve of tKe defendant’s abLOLt\ to cause aLd and abet otKers Ln tKe use of fLrearms Ln furtKerance of tKe druJ-traffLcNLnJ conspLrac\ as cKarJed Ln Count TZo and KLs conspLrac\ ZLtK otKers to use fLrearms L

39 n furtKerance of tKe druJ-traffLcNLnJ co
n furtKerance of tKe druJ-traffLcNLnJ conspLrac\ as cKarJed Ln Count TKree. See United States v. No. 14 Cr. 16 2018 :/ 581 at 4 S.D.N.<. Oct. 23 2018 reasonLnJ tKat murder Ln furtKerance of uncKarJed druJ-traffLcNLnJ conduct Zas ³probatLve of tKe Defendants’ opportunLt\ to conspLre to use and carr\ fLrearms Ln furtKerance of druJ crLmes´ see also United States v. Barnes 560 F. App’[ 36 41 2d CLr. 2014 reasonLnJ tKat defendant’s admLssLon ³about NLOOLnJ a rLvaO druJ deaOer´ Zas admLssLbOe ³as dLrect proof of tKe cKarJed cracN conspLrac\ and of >defendant’s] fLrearms possessLon reOated to tKat conspLrac\´. TKus tKe evLdence Ls pOaLnO\ reOevant and Kas even more probatLve vaOue tKan tKe murder Ln because tKe murders Ln questLon Kere Zere Ln FLnaOO\ evLdence reOated to tKese murders Ls admLssLbOe under RuOe 403. ³SLnce µdruJ traffLcNLnJ Ls often attended b\ vLoOence’ courts Ln tKLs CLrcuLt repeatedO\ Kave decOLned to precOude evLdence of vLoOence Ln narcotLcs cases.´   F. Supp. 3d at 48 quotLnJ States v. Sureff 15 F.3d 225 228-2 2d CLr. 14 and coOOectLnJ cases see also Abdalla 2018 :/ 581 at 4 United States v. Baptiste 264 F.3d 58 50 5tK CLr. 2001 ³AOtKouJK tKe Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 36 of 47 evLdence of tKe murders and attempted murders Zas preMudLcLaO Lt Zas necessar\ for tKe Mur\ to understand tKe brutaO nature of tKe conspLrac\.´ United States v. C

40 hin 83 F.3d 83 88 �
hin 83 F.3d 83 88 4tK CLr. 16 fLndLnJ no RuOe 403 vLoOatLon ZKere ³tKe murder demonstrated tKe e[tent to ZKLcK >defendant] Zas ZLOOLnJ to Jo or at Oeast tKreaten Ln order to ensure tKat tKe KeroLn deaO and an\ future deaOs Zent smootKO\´. TKe RuOe 403 baOancLnJ ZLtK respect to tKese tZo murders must aOso taNe Lnto account tKe fact tKat tKe evLdence Ln tKLs case reOates to e[tremeO\ vLoOent druJ traffLcNLnJ carrLed out b\ KeavLO\ armed crLmLnaOs. For e[ampOe durLnJ tKe defendant’s post-arrest statement Ke admLtted to acceptLnJ tZo fLrearms from a former co-conspLrator and tKat former co-conspLrators Kad ³partLcLpated severaO tLmes Ln man\ uK cOeanLnJs´ ZKLcK Ke confLrmed Zas a reference to ³NLOOLnJ peopOe.´ RLvera MaradLaJa Kas admLtted to causLnJ 8 murders Ln connectLon ZLtK KLs cooperatLon aJreement. TZo otKer antLcLpated cooperatLnJ ZLtnesses Kave admLtted to causLnJ more tKan 10 murders eacK. PartLcuOarO\ Ln tKat conte[t evLdence reOated to tKe o murders Ls not unduO\ preMudLc EvLdence of Statements b\ a +onduran DruJ TraffLcNer to C:-5 Ls AdmLssLbOe Under ,n 200 and 2010 CC-2—one of tKe defendant’s +onduran druJ-traffLcNLnJ co-conspLrators—KeOped Lntroduce a cooperatLnJ ZLtness ³C:-5´ to tKe defendant durLnJ an Ln-person meetLnJ ZKere tKe\ dLscussed OarJe druJ sKLpments and Zeapons. FoOOoZLnJ tKe meetLnJ CC-2 provLded addLtLonaO detaLO to C:-5 reJardLnJ tKe roOes pOandant and CC-1 a CoOombLan druJ-traffLcNLnJ assocLate of tKe defendant. CC-2’s statements to C:-5 are admLssLbOe Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 37 of 47 ,n appro[LmateO\ 200 C:-5 partLcLpated Ln druJ sKLpments ZLtK some of tKe d

41 efendant’s co-conspLrators Lnc
efendant’s co-conspLrators LncOudLnJ CC-1 and CC-2. DurLnJ tKe course of tKose actLvLtLes CC-2 KeOped set up a meetLnJ Ln +onduras betZeen tKe defendant and C:-5 amonJ otKers. TKe defendant Zas escorted to tKe meetLnJ b\ a securLt\ detaLO ZearLnJ ZKat appeared to be mLOLtar\ unLforms and carr\LnJ assauOt rLfOes. ,n tKe meetLnJ tKe defendant toOd C:-5 tKat Ke Kad appro[LmateO\ tZo tons of cocaLne Ln +onduras at tKe tLme and tKat Ke aOso Kad access to a cocaLne Oaborator\ Ln CoOombLa ZKere Ke couOd marN NLOoJrams ZLtK unLque stamps to Ldnot OLmLted to a ³T+´ stamp. TKe defendant saLd tKat Ke Kad stronJ reOatLonsKLps ZLtK +onduran poOLtLcLans as ZeOO as tKe mLOLtar\ and poOLce partLcuOarO\ Ln tKe Copán Department. TKe defendant aOso offered C:-5 Zeapons LncOudLnJ Jrenade OauncKers macKLneJuns and an FN +erstaO .5 At tKe concOusLon of tKe meetLnJ CC-2 and C:-5 aJreed to traveO to tKe Copán Department to Lnspect tKe defendant’s cocaLne and tKe\ uOtLmateO\ purcKased appro[LmateO\ 00 NLOoJrams. ,n es CC-2 toOd C:-tKat L C:-5 couOd trust tKe defendant but sKouOd not Oet KLm doZn and LL Lf C:-5 dLd not pa\ tKe defendant tKe defendant ZouOd NLOO KLm and Ke Kad tKe means to do Lt. FoOOoZLnJ tKe 00-NLOoJram transactLon tKe defendant suppOLed CC-2 and C:-5 ZLtK addLtLonaO muOtL-Kundred-NLOoJram Ooads of cocaLne tKat Zere Lmported Lnto tKe UnLted States. CC-2 confLrmed to C:-5 tKat tKe defendant and CC-1 Kad suppLpments. Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 38 of 47 TKe *overnment respectfuOO\ submLts tKat tKe foOOoZLnJ statements referred to beOoZ as ³Statement >number]´ are admLssLbOe tKrouJK testLmon\ of C:-5:,n appro[Lmate

42 O\ 200 CC-2 toOd C:-5 tK
O\ 200 CC-2 toOd C:-5 tKat L C:-5 couOd trust tKe defendant but sKouOd not Oet KLm doZn and LL Lf C:-5 dLd not pa\ tKe defendant tKe defendant ZouOd NLOO KLm and Ke Kad tKe means to do Lt. On severaO occasLons betZeen appro[LmateO\ 200 and 2010 CC-2 toOd C:-5 tKat tKe rLbute and Lmport Zas suppOLedDLscussLon Pursuant to RuOe 801d2E TKe *overnment ZLOO estabOLsK tKat tKe defendant and CC-2 Zere druJ-traffLcNLnJ co-conspLrators tKrouJK testLmon\ from C:-5 because C:-5 attended a meetLnJ reJardLnJ druJ traffLcNLnJ ZLtK botK men Ln appro[LmateO\ 200 around tKe tLme of Statement 1 and tKen traveOed ZLtK CC-2 to Lnspect somevLdence of tKe e[Lstence of tKLs conspLrac\ C:-1 ZLOO descrLbe ZorNLnJ on druJ sKLpments ZLtK CC-2 and KLs assocLates LncOudLnJ durLnJ tKe perLod ZKen tKe defendant Zas KeOpLnJ to protect C:-1’s sKLpments. CC-2 used Statement 1 to C:-5 to frLnJ C:-5 tKat Ke couOd trust tKe defendant Ln connectLon ZLtK tKeLr crLmLnaO actLvLt\.See United States v. Roldan-Zapata16 F.2d 5 803 2d CLr. 10 fLndLnJ ³Ln furtKerance´ requLrement met ZKere statement ³Lnform>ed]´ tKe OLstener ³of tKe LdentLt\ and roOe of´ tKe defendant and ³reassure>ed] KLm to proceed ZLtK tKe transactLon Ln tKe presence of someone ZLtK ZKom Ke Zas not famLOLar´. CC-2’s ZarnLnJ Ln Statement 1 tKat tKe defendant ZouOd resort to vLoOence furtKered tKe conspLrac\ b\ Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 39 of 47 maNLnJ C:-5 aZare tKat tKere ZouOd be severe consequences for an\ faLOure to deOLver on KLs promLses and aJreements. See United States v. Simmons 23 F.2d 34

43  45 2d CLr. 1&#x
 45 2d CLr. 11 fLndLnJ ³Ln furtKerance´ requLrement met ZKere ³tKe stor\ of >former co-conspLrator’s] murder Zarned members of tKe CreZ tKat a sLmLOar fate aZaLted tKose ZKo faLOed to foOOoZ >Oeader’s] orders´ see also United States v. Khan 51 F. Supp. 2d 202 205 E.D.N.<. 2008 ³,ntLmLdatLon vLoOence and tKe pa\ment of debts Ls JeneraOO\ understood to be LntertZLned ZLtK tKe manaJement and operatLon of narcotLcs conspLracLes and tKese uncKarJed acts demonstrate defendant’s aOOeJed OeadersKLp roOe.´. Moreover for tKe same reasons dLscussed above ZLtK respect to evLdence of tKe defendant’s partLcLpatLon Ln tZo druJ-reOated murders CC-2’s ZarnLnJ reJardLnJ tKe defendant Statement 2 furtKered tKe conspLrac\ because CC-2’s subsequent confLrmatLons to C:-5 tKat tKe defendant and CC-1 Zere partLcLpatLnJ Ln tKe conspLrac\ b\ suppO\LnJ cocaLne provLded C:-5 ZLtK LnformatLon about tKe se roOes pOa\ed b\ otKer members and assured C:-5 tKat tKe\ Zere stLOO operatLnJ ZLtK a poOLtLcaOO\ poZerfuO aOO\ capabOe of protectLnJ tKem and tKe cocaLne. Pursuant to RuOe 804b3 Based on LnformatLon from a cooperatLnJ ZLtness tKe *overnment beOLeves tKat CC-2 Ls unavaLOabOe under RuOe 804 because Ke Ls deceased. Fed. R. EvLd. 804a4. CC-2’s Statements to C:-5 reOated to druJ sKLpments Ln ZKLcK tKe\ Zere partLcLpatLnJ ZLtK tKe defendant and CC-1 and Ln OLJKt of tKe evLdence descrLbed above CC-2 dLd not appear to e[aJJerate tKe defendant’s roOe or sKLft bOame from KLmseOf ZKen Ke spoNe to C:-5. ,n Statement 1 CC-2 aOso reOa\ed mutuaOO\ LncuOpator\ LnformatLon about KLs prLor e[perLe

44 nce Ln druJ traffLcNLnJ ZLtK tKe Case 1
nce Ln druJ traffLcNLnJ ZLtK tKe Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 40 of 47 defendant. See United States v. Stratton  F.2d 820 828-2 2d CLr. 185 fLndLnJ tKat decOarant’s statements reJardLnJ ³KLstor\ of tKe conspLrac\´ Zere ³overZKeOmLnJO\ contrar\ to KLs penaO Lnterests´. CC-2 saLd tKetLme C:-5 ZLtKout an\ LndLcatLon tKat tKe statements ZouOd be dLscOosed to autKorLtLes. at 82 fLndLnJ statements suffLcLentO\ reOLabOtKan tKe autKorLtLes´ and ³tKerefore Kad no reason to OLe or attempt to curr\ favor´. AccordLnJO\ CC-2’s statements to C:-5 are aOso admLssLbOe under RuOe 804b3. EOectronLc CommunLcatLons b\ Cent’s ,nLtLaOs Are AdmLssLbOe ,n -une 2016 tZo druJ traffLcNers Ln CentraO AmerLca ³CC-8´ and ³CC-´ e[cKanJed eOectronLc communLcatLons vLa BOacNBerr\ messenJer ZKLcK LncOuded dLscussLon of purcKasLnJ Kundreds of NLOoJrams of cocaLne Ln San Pedro SuOa +onduras tKat Zere marNed ZLtK a stamp bearLnJ tKe defendant’s LnLtLaOs. DurLnJ tKe e[cKanJe CC-8 sent CC- a pKotoJrapK of one of tKe ³T+´-stamped NLOoJrams. TKe messaJes are tKerefore probatLve of tKe defendant’s partLcLpatLon dmLssLbOe pursuant to RuOes 80On -une 23 2016 CC-8 and CC- e[cKanJed communLcatLons for appro[LmateO\ fLve Kours vLa BOacNBerr\ MessenJer ZKLcK Zere OaZfuOO\ Lntercepted pursuant to a TLtOe ,,, ZLretap Ln anotKer DLstrLct. E[. B draft transOatLons of tKe Lntercepts. DurLnJ tKe e[cKanJe CC-8 used a devLce tKat Zas connected to a +onduran teOecommunLcatLons servLce provLder and CC-’s devLce Zas

45 connected to a *uatemaOan provLder. ,n
connected to a *uatemaOan provLder. ,n sum tKe LnterceptLons reveaOed tKat CC- Zas Oate pa\LnJ CC-8 Ln connectLon ZLtK a prLor druJ deaO because CC-’s ³cOLent´ Kad not paLd KLm \et. at 1:3 5. CC-8 Zas seeNLnJ Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 41 of 47 States v. Hernandez 521 F. App’[ 14 1 2d CLr. 2013 ³PreOLmLnar\ questLons of tKLs nature are to be resoOved b\ tKe court b\ a preponderance of tKe evLdence ZKLcK ma\ LncOude reference to tKe Kearsa\ statements tKemseOves so OonJ as otKer Lndependent evLdence corroborates tKe fact of tKe defendant’s partLcLpatLsee also United States v. Parker238 2d CLr. 200 desco]ne ZKo estabOLsKes a contLnuLnJ busLness of seOOLnJ druJs Ln OarJe ZKoOesaOe quantLtLes NnoZs tKat tKe success of KLs seOOLnJ busLness depends on tKe abLOLt\ of KLs customers to reseOO to otKers ZKo Ln turn ZLOO reseOO to stLOO otKers untLO tKe product uOtLmateO\ Ls soOd to retaLO consumers´. CC-8 and CC- used tKe SpanLsK sOanJ ³Cuas´ to address eacK otKer ZKLcK refOected frLendsKLp and famLOLarLt\ and tKe communLcatLons demonstrated tKat CC-8 and CC- Kad ZorNed toJetKer prevLousO\ Ln druJ traffLcNLnJ. E[. B at 1:6 ³><]ou are aOZa\s ver\ punctuaO to pa\ me.´. TcommunLcatLons aOso LndLcated tKat CC-8 and CC- Kad ZorNed prevLousO\ ZLtK tKe person offerLnJ tKem tKe defendant’s ³T+´-stamped cocaLne and tKat CC-8 and CC- consLdered tKe reOatLonsKLp to be sensLtLve.  at 2:111 ³+e Ls tKe onO\ one ZKo JLves me . . . .´ at 1:18 ³>:]e Kave never made tKem ZaLt OLNe tKLs.´ at 2:3-4 &#x

46 000b;³, ansZer KLm as soon as Ke sends
000b;³, ansZer KLm as soon as Ke sends a messaJe because tKen Ke tKLnNs bad or Ke can tKLnN tKat , Oose sometKLnJ. ,t Ls m\ responsLbLOLt\ to Neep KLm posted.´ // ³s]upposedO\ Lts Ton\ +ernande]´ and tKat ³Lt’s a . . . a NLOo of a NLOo or . . . or a pacNaJe of . . . of . . . of druJs supposedO\ druJs.´ TKe defendant’s admLssLons are KLJKO\ LncrLmLnatLnJ ZLtK respect to tKe pKotoJrapK because Ke LmmedLateO\ confLrmed tKat tKe stamp depLcted ³T+´ ³supposedO\´ referred to KLmseOf and Zas LmprLnted on ³druJs.´ ,n addLtLon to tKe communLcatLons tKemseOves and tKe defendant’s admLssLons at Oeast tZo ZLtnesses ZLOO testLf\ tKat tKe defendant’s cocaLne stamp Zas a ³T+´ ZKLcK furtKer connects tKe defendant to tKe pLcture FLnaOO\ tKe communLcatLons betZeen CC-8 and CC- Zere Ln furtKerance of tKe conspLrac\ because tKe\ reOated to prLor crLmLnaO deaOLnJs a pendLnJ druJ debt oZed b\ CC- and KLs ³cOLent´ and onJoLnJ druJ neJotLatLons betZeen CC-8 CC- and doZnstream

47 suppOLers of tKe defendant’s cocaLne
suppOLers of tKe defendant’s cocaLne reOated to tKe purcKase of Kundreds of tKe ³T+´-stamped NLOoJrams tKat Zere stored Ln +onduras at tKe tLme of tKe communLcatLons.  22 F.2d at 5 fLndLnJ ³Ln furtKerance´ requLrement met ZKere statements ³seeN to Lnduce a coconspLrator’s assLstance or serve to foster trust and coKesLveness or Lnform eacK otKer as to tKe proJress or status of tKe conspLrac\´. TKerefore tKe messaJes set fortK Ln E[KLbLt B are admLssLbOe pursuant to RuOe Because tKe *overnment ZLOO offer tKe defendant’s post-arrest statements reJardLnJ tKe pKotoJrapK tKe e[cKanJe of commu Ls aOso admLssLbOe Ln order to provLde conte[t for KoZ tKe DEA obtaLned tKe pLcture and tKe cLrcumstances under ZKLcK Lt Zas orLJLnaOO\ transmLtted. Case 1:15-cr-00379-PKC Document 78 Filed 08/02/19 Page 44 of 47 CONC/US,ON For tKe foreJoLnJ reasons tKe *overnment respectfuOO\ submLts tKat tKe Court sKouOd Jrant Dated: NeZ { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https://www.docslides.com/slides/900599/NAN_suppOLers_of_tKe_defendant___s_cocaLne_", "description": "_suppOLers_of_tKe_defendant___s_cocaLne_reOated_to_tKe_purcKase_of_Kundreds_of_tKe___T____stamped_NLOoJrams_tKat_Zere_st", "width": "1275" }