Honduran man sentenced in Maryland murder-for-hire, cocaine case

MARYLAND (WBFF) — An undocumented Honduran man was sentenced Friday to over a decade in prison for attempted murder for hire, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Maryland.

Frelin Hernandez Guardado, 30, was sentenced to 12 years for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and murder for hire, officials reported.

Authorities noted that Hernandez Guardado was removed from the United States twice.

Court documents revealed that in October 2021, Hernandez Guardado sold firearms even though federal law prohibits undocumented individuals from possessing firearms.

In December 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants and made arrests related to a local trafficking network. Following these arrests, Hernandez Guardado informed two individuals of his intention to kill someone he believed had cooperated with the authorities.

Hernandez Guardado also offered to sell one of those individuals discounted cocaine in exchange for help with committing the murder, authorities reported.

On January 12, 2022, Hernandez Guardado and another person left his Virginia home with over 900 grams of cocaine, intending to sell it at a discount to someone who would assist in committing a murder, according to authorities.

Officials said that law enforcement stopped the plan from progressing any further and arrested Hernandez Guardado while he was in Maryland.

Hernandez Guardado will now spend the next 12 years in federal prison.