Honduran ex‑mayor Alexander Ardón’s money‑laundering trial ends, verdict set for Aug 24

The oral phase of the criminal trial against former El Paraíso mayor Alexander Ardón Soriano concluded in the Second Chamber of the Honduran Court of Sentencing. The court heard defense‑presented expert evidence on Ardón’s income from coffee, livestock, real estate and other assets, while rejecting the defense’s request to withdraw its pericial reports.

Ardón faces charges of money‑laundering linked to the AA drug cartel and alleged ties to Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Guatemalan trafficker Mario Ponce. He was arrested after being deported from the United States, where he testified in the case against former president Juan Orlando Hernández. The judge scheduled the sentencing for 2 p.m. on 24 August.