A Honduran man, Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, has been extradited to the United States for his alleged involvement in a drug smuggling conspiracy. Velasquez Maldonado, 39, is accused of being part of a scheme to transport approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Honduras to the U.S. on a vessel that attempted 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, destined for Cocodrie, Louisiana. At the time of his arrest, Velasquez Maldonado allegedly pretended to be an undocumented immigrant aiming to stay in the U.S. to elude prosecution.
Velasquez Maldonado has been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. He appeared in court in the Eastern District of Louisiana and is currently detained, with a detention hearing scheduled for Monday. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence. "A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors," according to court officials.
His co-defendants, Carl Allison, Darrel Martinez, and Josue Flores-Villeda, have already pleaded guilty to associated charges in 2023. Lenord Cooper admitted to aiding in the unlawful entry of aliens into the U.S. and attempting to do so for financial gain.
Authorities in the U.S. and Honduras coordinated on Velasquez Maldonado's extradition as part of Joint Task Force Alpha and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force Program. These initiatives aim to dismantle human trafficking and smuggling networks impacting public safety and border security. "JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling," as stated by the Department of Justice.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. The operation is supported by various U.S. agencies and law enforcement entities.
The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office led the investigation with assistance from several other offices and agencies, including the Justice Department's Comprehensive Assistance Unit in Honduras. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Deputy Chief Rami Badawy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice.
"The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or present grave humanitarian concerns," officials note.
It is important to remember that an indictment is simply an allegation, and the accused remains innocent until proven guilty.