Latest news with #JorgeHernández
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Longtime DEA informant charged in alleged scheme to extort high-level cocaine traffickers
A drug informant who helped the US Drug Enforcement Administration build some of its biggest cases has been arrested and charged with scheming to extort major cocaine traffickers facing extradition from Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Jorge Hernández, 57, was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud. He remains in custody after being arrested and making his initial court appearance Wednesday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale. 4 Jorge Hernández helped the DEA build some of its largest cases. AP Court papers allege that Hernández operated a scheme starting in 2020 in which he pretended to be a paralegal who, for the right price, could obtain lighter sentences for drug kingpins, according to 17-page FBI affidavit. The FBI alleged that Hernández demanded payments of $1 million from six suspected drug traffickers who ended up surrendering or being extradited to the US. In exchange for the payments — which came in the form of cash, jewelry, properties and vehicles in Colombia — Hernández guaranteed short prison sentences that would be served 'in an apartment similar to being on house arrest,' the court papers said. But Hernández never delivered on his promises, nor did he have authority to offer such leniency. 4 Hernández was accused of pretending to be a paralegal who, for the right price, could obtain lighter sentences for drug kingpins, according to the FBI. REUTERS As the traffickers who thought they were buying influence grew upset, he would deny responsibility and shift blame to the traffickers' attorneys, the FBI said. Nestor Menendez, an attorney who represented Hernández at his initial appearance, declined to comment. In two decades as a confidential informant, Hernández had been one of federal law enforcement's most prolific case-makers, providing the types of tips and information that led to prosecutions of high seas drug smugglers, a former University of Miami money laundering expert and a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. 4 The US Coast Guard Cutter James crew offloaded more than $1.06 billion in illegal narcotics at Port Everglades in 2022. Petty Officer 3rd Class Jose Hernandez Better known in law enforcement circles by his Spanish nickname Boliche — bowling ball — the beefy, bald-headed Colombian was also the star witness in the 2023 bribery trial of two former DEA supervisors convicted for leaking information on ongoing drug investigations. He got his start as an informant in 2000 shortly after he was arrested in Venezuela, where he had fled to escape drug dealers seeking to kill him, according to a 2023 investigation by The Associated Press. After bribing officials to secure his release, he approached the DEA, admitting to killing three people during his days as a drug runner near his home along Colombia's Caribbean coast. He then began helping the DEA build some of its biggest cases. 4 The US Coast Guard has scanned international waters to find drug smugglers. U.S. Coast guard Agents grew so reliant on Hernández's network of criminal associates across the Western hemisphere that they set him up with a phone and desk at a federal anti-narcotics task force, the AP found. The DEA terminated his cooperation agreement in 2008, court records show, after authorities discovered he had threatened to expose informants as snitches unless they paid him to keep quiet. But he kept close to some of his former DEA handlers and eventually returned to Miami. In 2016, he met DEA agent John Costanzo, who was supervising agents investigating Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a suspected bag man for Venezuela's Maduro. In 2023, Hernández testified against Costanzo and another former DEA agent convicted of taking bribes from narco defense attorneys. Hernández turned the tables on the DEA around the same time he was charged alongside University of Miami professor Bruce Bagley for helping move $3 million on behalf of Saab, who prosecutors said was secretly negotiating a deal to betray Maduro. Those charges remain under seal. In the complaint unsealed Wednesday, the FBI that Hernández is serving a term of probation on a federal conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering that is set to end in May 2027.
2 days ago
DEA informant charged in alleged scheme to extort high-level cocaine traffickers
MIAMI -- A drug informant who helped the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration build some of its biggest cases has been arrested and charged with scheming to extort major cocaine traffickers facing extradition from Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Jorge Hernández, 57, was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud. He remains in custody after being arrested and making his initial court appearance Wednesday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale. Court papers allege that Hernández operated a scheme starting in 2020 in which he pretended to be a paralegal who, for the right price, could obtain lighter sentences for drug kingpins, according to 17-page FBI affidavit. The FBI alleged that Hernández demanded payments of $1 million from six suspected drug traffickers who ended up surrendering or being extradited to the U.S. In exchange for the payments — which came in the form of cash, jewelry, properties and vehicles in Colombia — Hernández guaranteed short prison sentences that would be served 'in an apartment similar to being on house arrest,' the court papers said. But Hernández never delivered on his promises, nor did he have authority to offer such leniency. As the traffickers who thought they were buying influence grew upset, he would deny responsibility and shift blame to the traffickers' attorneys, the FBI said. Nestor Menendez, an attorney who represented Hernández at his initial appearance, declined to comment. In two decades as a confidential informant, Hernández had been one of federal law enforcement's most prolific case-makers, providing the types of tips and information that led to prosecutions of high seas drug smugglers, a former University of Miami money laundering expert and a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Better known in law enforcement circles by his Spanish nickname Boliche — bowling ball — the beefy, bald-headed Colombian was also the star witness in the 2023 bribery trial of two former DEA supervisors convicted for leaking information on ongoing drug investigations. He got his start as an informant in 2000 shortly after he was arrested in Venezuela, where he had fled to escape drug dealers seeking to kill him, according to a 2023 investigation by The Associated Press. After bribing officials to secure his release, he approached the DEA, admitting to killing three people during his days as a drug runner near his home along Colombia's Caribbean coast. He then began helping the DEA build some of its biggest cases. Agents grew so reliant on Hernández's network of criminal associates across the Western hemisphere that they set him up with a phone and desk at a federal anti-narcotics task force, the AP found. The DEA terminated his cooperation agreement in 2008, court records show, after authorities discovered he had threatened to expose informants as snitches unless they paid him to keep quiet. But he kept close to some of his former DEA handlers and eventually returned to Miami. In 2016, he met DEA agent John Costanzo, who was supervising agents investigating Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a suspected bag man for Venezuela's Maduro. In 2023, Hernández testified against Costanzo and another former DEA agent convicted of taking bribes from narco defense attorneys. Hernández turned the tables on the DEA around the same time he was charged alongside University of Miami professor Bruce Bagley for helping move $3 million on behalf of Saab, who prosecutors said was secretly negotiating a deal to betray Maduro. Those charges remain under seal. In the complaint unsealed Wednesday, the FBI that Hernández is serving a term of probation on a federal conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering that is set to end in May 2027.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
Longtime DEA informant charged in alleged scheme to extort high-level cocaine traffickers
MIAMI (AP) — A drug informant who helped the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration build some of its biggest cases has been arrested and charged with scheming to extort major cocaine traffickers facing extradition from Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Jorge Hernández, 57, was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud. He remains in custody after being arrested and making his initial court appearance Wednesday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale. Court papers allege that Hernández operated a scheme starting in 2020 in which he pretended to be a paralegal who, for the right price, could obtain lighter sentences for drug kingpins, according to 17-page FBI affidavit. The FBI alleged that Hernández demanded payments of $1 million from six suspected drug traffickers who ended up surrendering or being extradited to the U.S. In exchange for the payments — which came in the form of cash, jewelry, properties and vehicles in Colombia — Hernández guaranteed short prison sentences that would be served 'in an apartment similar to being on house arrest,' the court papers said. But Hernández never delivered on his promises, nor did he have authority to offer such leniency. As the traffickers who thought they were buying influence grew upset, he would deny responsibility and shift blame to the traffickers' attorneys, the FBI said. Nestor Menendez, an attorney who represented Hernández at his initial appearance, declined to comment. In two decades as a confidential informant, Hernández had been one of federal law enforcement's most prolific case-makers, providing the types of tips and information that led to prosecutions of high seas drug smugglers , a former University of Miami money laundering expert and a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro . Better known in law enforcement circles by his Spanish nickname Boliche — bowling ball — the beefy, bald-headed Colombian was also the star witness in the 2023 bribery trial of two former DEA supervisors convicted for leaking information on ongoing drug investigations. He got his start as an informant in 2000 shortly after he was arrested in Venezuela, where he had fled to escape drug dealers seeking to kill him, according to a 2023 investigation by The Associated Press . After bribing officials to secure his release, he approached the DEA, admitting to killing three people during his days as a drug runner near his home along Colombia's Caribbean coast. He then began helping the DEA build some of its biggest cases. Agents grew so reliant on Hernández's network of criminal associates across the Western hemisphere that they set him up with a phone and desk at a federal anti-narcotics task force, the AP found. The DEA terminated his cooperation agreement in 2008, court records show, after authorities discovered he had threatened to expose informants as snitches unless they paid him to keep quiet. But he kept close to some of his former DEA handlers and eventually returned to Miami. In 2016, he met DEA agent John Costanzo, who was supervising agents investigating Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a suspected bag man for Venezuela's Maduro. In 2023, Hernández testified against Costanzo and another former DEA agent convicted of taking bribes from narco defense attorneys. Hernández turned the tables on the DEA around the same time he was charged alongside University of Miami professor Bruce Bagley for helping move $3 million on behalf of Saab, who prosecutors said was secretly negotiating a deal to betray Maduro. Those charges remain under seal. In the complaint unsealed Wednesday, the FBI that Hernández is serving a term of probation on a federal conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering that is set to end in May 2027. — Mustian reported from New York.
Forbes
13-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Cacao Ceremonies, Spicy Treatments: How Capella Is Reinventing Wellness
Jorge Hernández, the director of spa and wellness at Capella Singapore, shows off a coloring book that guests receive after their treatment. The idea is to keep them disconnected from their electronic devices for a few more minutes. "We wanted to do something different," he says. Aren Elliott On the outside, Capella's Auriga Spa looks like any other wellness facility in Singapore. There are treatment rooms, saunas, steam baths and a pool. But that's where the similarities end. "We want to separate ourselves from the other luxury spas," explains Jorge Hernández, the director of spa and wellness at Capella Singapore. "We want to define what wellness means in Singapore." Singapore isn't short on high-end hotels with spas. The Raffles, the St. Regis and the Mandarin Oriental all have world-class wellness programs. In this competitive landscape, standing out requires more than just plush robes and soothing music. So Capella, a 113-room resort on Singapore's exclusive Sentosa Island, is taking a different tack. It's banking on locally inspired treatments, a strong connection with the community, and a forward-thinking approach that challenges the traditional definition of wellness. Hotels are sizing up the $6.3 trillion wellness industry in their own way. Some are integrating it into their operations. Others are adding wellness amenities to their rooms. Still others see wellness as a way to stand out from their competitors. The entrance to Capella's Auriga Spa in Singapore. Aren Elliott To set itself apart, Auriga Spa is reimagining its facials and massages — and it's reaching new markets. "Customers now want more mental wellness activities," Hernández says. "They are looking more for holistic experiences." The spa has introduced experiences you probably won't find at any other spa in Singapore, such as a cacao ceremony. The ritual is described as a "heart-opening" treatment that allows you to experience love in its purest form, feeling an intimate connection with yourself and others. The benefits are said to include an energy boost and deep reflection. It's guided by a local collective of mindfulness mentors. Capella's other treatments have a deeper purpose than relaxation. Some of its massages are synched to the moon phase and use gua sha and cuppings to improve circulation and immune support. Facials are "age reversing" with a combination of vitamins, minerals and a "highly active" collagen face mask. Its signature Balot Ng Aruga treatment even incorporates Thanaka powder, which has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is favored by royalty in Asia. "These are experiences related to Malay culture, which you won't find outside this area," says Hernández. The exterior of the Capella Singapore. The hotel integrates modern design with two Tanah Merah military buildings from the 1880s. Aren Elliott While Capella is a luxury hotel that attracts mostly international guests, its spa has cultivated a strong local following. "The main clients here are locals," Hernández says, noting that 65 percent of his business comes from Singapore residents. Interestingly, Auriga Spa has also carved out a niche with travelers making their way through Singapore's Changi Airport, a major global transit hub. "We have a wellness day pass that's very popular with airline passengers," he explained. He recalls one passenger who had a 10-hour stopover in Singapore and texted him to see if she could purchase a day pass. She arrived early in the morning, had breakfast and a 90-minute treatment, and then enjoyed the pool before returning to the airport to fly to her final destination. Singapore is, of course, one of the world's most popular layover destinations. Qantas' famous QF1 flight from Sydney to London stops in Singapore for two hours. Singapore's circular airport shopping center, with its indoor waterfall in the mall, is legendary. In a place like this, you would almost expect to be invited to a cacao ceremony or to receive a massage attuned to the lunar cycle. A massage bed in the spa at the Capella Singapore. Aren Elliott The world of wellness moves quickly. Capella's Auriga Spa is has ambitious expansion plans and is planning a full overhaul of its treatment menu to keep up. "We're going to refresh the menu in a couple of months and bring in some new exclusive skin care brands," says Hernández. Behind the upgrades, there's a strong belief that the very definition of wellness has shifted. "Before COVID, wellness was more transactional," he explains. "A 60-minute treatment was enough — then it's back to work." Not anymore. Now, wellness is seen as a necessity. People want to disconnect, and the Capella wants to help them in big and small ways. The hotel even gently encourages guests to stay unplugged after their treatment by providing them with stress-relieving coloring books.. "We want them to stay disconnected as long as possible," he explains. In an ever-changing city like Singapore, the pursuit of wellness is a dynamic journey. Capella's Auriga Spa, with its focus on unique experiences, local connections, and continuous improvement, is charting its own course. It promises to be an interesting journey.
