Honduran sentenced to four years over US visa forgery, cocaine possession

—was held with accomplice at DHL

Julio Herrera
Julio Herrera

A Honduran national who admitted to creating fake visas and selling them while in Guyana, was yesterday sentenced to a total of four years in prison, after he was charged with conspiring to forge a document and cocaine possession.

“For the love of God please take into consideration deportation,” Julio Herrera begged, moments before he was sentenced for the offences.

Acting Chief Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, read the two charges to the accused with the aid of an interpreter.

The first charge stated that between May 1 and May 23, at Georgetown, Herrera conspired with a person or persons unknown to commit a felony with forgery, contrary to section 277 of the Criminal Law Offences Act.

It was further alleged that on May 23 at Charlotte Street, the accused had 0.6 grammes of cocaine in his possession.

Herrera pleaded guilty to both allegations.

According to facts presented by police prosecutor Adduni Inniss, on May 23, ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters conducted an operation on the defendant and another male, who were both apprehended at DHL at Fifth Street, Alberttown.

A search was conducted on the two men and two forged US visas were found in their possession. 

The police then went to the home of the accused, where a search was conducted and suspected cocaine was found in a cigarette pack. The prosecutor noted that the defendant was then escorted to CID, where with the aid of an interpreter, he admitted to committing the crimes.

The file was then sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and it was recommended that the accused be deported immediately.

Questioned by the magistrate as to if he wished to say anything relating to the charges, the accused stated that he was sorry and that he had no idea of the seriousness of the false visas.

In relation to the cocaine possession charge, the accused stated that a day prior to being arrested, he was drunk and bought the drugs to smoke in a cigarette but he did not get to use it.

Asked what he was doing in Guyana, the 36 year-old accused told the court that he was creating false visas and selling them.

Prior to sentencing, Herrera stated, “Sorry to Guyana, the police and to the court. I am begging for a lighter sentence. I’m far away from my family and I have no one here. For the love of God, please take into consideration just deportation. If you say I have to pay a fine I will take it. I have really bad health, I’m allergic to dust and sand and I may die if locked up.”

Hearing all that the accused had to say, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus sentenced the accused to a year in prison and a fine of $20,000 for the narcotics charge, and three years behind bars for the conspiracy charge.

Herrera will be deported after time served.