Honduran man extradited to US for alleged role in international drug smuggling conspiracy

WASHINGTON — A Honduran man was extradited to the United States April 11 for his alleged involvement in a drug smuggling conspiracy, following extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Honduran law enforcement authorities.

Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune made the announcement.

Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, 39, allegedly conspired to transport approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Honduras to the U.S. on a vessel attempting to illegally bring 23 Honduran nationals into the country. This operation was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard in February 2022, about 75 miles off the coast of Louisiana after the vessel, M/V Pop, developed engine trouble.

According to court documents, Velasquez Maldonado was tasked with ensuring the cocaine was safely transported on the M/V Pop, which set sail from Utila, Honduras, to Cocodrie, Louisiana. When he was apprehended, Velasquez Maldonado allegedly pretended to be an undocumented immigrant aiming to stay in the U.S. to avoid prosecution.

Velasquez Maldonado is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. He made his initial court appearance in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

If convicted, Velasquez Maldonado faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

His co-defendants, Carl Allison, 47, Darrel Martinez, 41, and Josue Flores-Villeda, 37, previously pleaded guilty to associated charges in 2023. Lenord Cooper, 40, admitted to aiding in the unlawful entry of aliens into the U.S. and attempting to do so for financial gain. Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya, 29, and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, 38, were also convicted after trial of aiding in the unlawful entry of aliens into the U.S. and attempting to do so for financial gain.

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The investigation and extradition of Velasquez Maldonado was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force program. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, has been elevated and expanded by the attorney general with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and ICE HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present national security, public safety risks or grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

ICE HSI Houma, Louisiana investigated the case, with assistance from ICE HSI Pittsburgh, ICE HSI Atlanta and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The ICE HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance, in addition to the substantial assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training in Honduras.

Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice of the General Crimes Unit for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.