Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado, born on October 28, 1968, in Gracias, Lempira, Honduras, is a Honduran lawyer and former politician who served as the 38th president of Honduras from January 27, 2014, to January 27, 2022. A member of the right-wing National Party, Hernández was previously president of the National Congress of Honduras from 2010 until 2013, when he stepped aside to run for president. He won the 2013 presidential election and was controversially re-elected in 2017 after the Supreme Court allowed a second term despite constitutional limits; the 2017 election was marked by accusations of fraud, violent protests, and a state of emergency declaration[2][3][4]. During his presidency, Hernández promoted security policies including the creation of a 5,000-strong military police force and social programs like *Vida Mejor* aimed at poverty reduction. He replaced four of five magistrates on the constitutional court, enabling his re-election. His administration faced heavy criticism for alleged authoritarianism, electoral fraud, and human rights abuses related to the suppression of post-election protests, in which around 30 demonstrators were killed[1][2][4][5]. Hernández’s tenure was also marred by serious legal troubles. Prosecutors accused him of using drug trafficking proceeds to finance his political campaigns and enrich himself, alleging he turned Honduras into a "narco-state." His brother was convicted of drug trafficking in the United States, and multiple witnesses implicated Hernández in drug trafficking activities[1][2][3]. In February 2022, Hernández was extradited to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking and weapons conspiracy. His trial in New York concluded with a guilty verdict in March 2024, and in June 2024 he was sentenced to 45 years in prison and fined $8 million[1][2][3][6]. Hernández’s rise from a poor rural background to the presidency and subsequent criminal conviction marks a significant chapter in Honduran political history, reflecting deep challenges with corruption and rule of law in the country.