HomeNewsBriefHonduras Elite Speaks Out Against US Money Laundering Charges
BRIEF

Honduras Elite Speaks Out Against US Money Laundering Charges

CACHIROS / 9 OCT 2015 BY DAVID GAGNE EN

One of the Honduran elites accused by US authorities of money laundering, Yani Rosenthal, has spoken publicly to deny his family's alleged links to drug trafficking, as one Honduras' wealthiest and most politically influential families fights to protect its tarnished reputation.

In an interview with newspaper El Heraldo, Yani Rosenthal, the son of former Vice President Jaime Rosenthal Oliva, denied the criminal charges that were made public by US authorities on October 7. The release of the indictment accusing Jaime, his nephew Yankel Rosenthal, Yani and a lawyer associated with the family of money laundering came just one day after Yankel was arrested in Miami

"For over 80 years Grupo Continental has operated in Honduras, the majority of people who are familiar with this group, know... that at no point have we been drug traffickers nor money launderers," Yani said, referring to the Rosenthals' economic conglomerate that is one of the biggest in Honduras.

SEE ALSO: Coverage of Elites and Organized Crime

Rosenthal also stated that any information provided to US authorities by extradited drug traffickers about the Rosenthals' criminal activities was false, and that those individuals were looking to "save themselves." Yani did not mention any specific names, but in June, his father Jaime told InSight Crime that the Rosenthals had done business for years with one of Honduras' biggest drug trafficking clans, the Cachiros. The top members of the Cachiros handed themselves in to US authorities in January.

In addition to the indictment, the US Treasury placed Yani, Jaime and Yankel on its drug "Kingpin" list, along with several of the Rosenthals' businesses.

InSight Crime Analysis

Yani's outspoken defense is likely a sign of what is at stake for him if the accusations against his family are not thoroughly disproved. 

Not as much attention has been placed on Yani since news of the indictment broke, as Jaime is the head of the family business and Yankel is the only member arrested so far. However, Yani, a political and economic heavyweight in his own right, may have the most to lose from this situation.

The indictment will likely ruin any political aspirations Yani may have harbored. He has previously served in the government of former President Manuel Zelaya, and unsuccessfully ran in the last presidential election.  

The charges will also, in all likelihood, have a serious impact on Grupo Continental, which Yani helps run alongside his octogenarian father. Due to their new "kingpin" status, US citizens are now prohibited from doing business with Yani, Jaime or Yankel.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

BOLIVIA / 4 FEB 2022

The US indictment of Bolivia's former anti-narcotics chief on drug and weapons charges means he could possibly be extradited to…

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC / 7 SEP 2022

President Luis Abinader has vowed to root out corruption in the Dominican Republic. But this is much easier said than…

ELITES AND CRIME / 26 MAY 2021

A corruption investigation revealed earlier this week offers a rare chance for Mexico to confront long-rumored bribery between the highest…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted

3 MAR 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention

24 FEB 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime on El País Podcast

10 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press

3 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…

THE ORGANIZATION

Escaping Barrio 18

27 JAN 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…