A Honduran national living in Port Arthur has pleaded guilty in a foiled murder-for-hire plot.

Santos Orellana-Hernandez, 47, pleaded guilty to use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, tampering with a witness by intimidation and threats and conspiracy to commit witness tampering. Orellana-Hernandez entered his guilty plea Friday before U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield, according to a news release from acting U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas Nicholas J. Ganjei F on Friday afternoon.

According to information presented in court, from January to March 2020, Orellana-Hernandez solicited the murder of two extended family members that lived in Honduras.

The purpose of the intended murders, according to the information, was revenge against Orellana-Hernandez’s soon-to-be ex-wife, who was seeking a divorce from Orellana-Hernandez in Jefferson County.

Orellana-Hernandez offered to pay $200,000 in Honduran Lempira — about $8,000 in U.S. dollars — after the killer provided photographic proof that his family members had been killed, the documents showed.

Orellana-Hernandez directed the hired killer to complete them on or after April 21, 2020 — the date when the divorce was to become final.

The hired killer later placed a recorded telephone call to Orellana-Hernandez, in which the two discussed the murder-for-hire plot, using coded language such as “planting the corn,” to refer to the killings. The man who had been hired to kill Orellana-Hernandez’s family members later told investigators that “planting the corn” meant burying the victims’ bodies.

“We appreciate the continued collaboration of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI on this case,” said Port Arthur Police Chief Timothy Duriso. “We will continue to work closely with our federal partners to make Port Arthur a safer place.”

Orellana-Hernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 20, 2020 and arrested. In early June, while jailed, Orellana-Hernandez conspired with another person to intimidate one of the family members in an attempt to make her withdraw the murder-for-hire accusation. On Nov. 4, 2020, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment that added the witness tampering charges.

Orellana-Hernandez faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Day.

“Today’s announcement highlights the FBI’s efforts in Beaumont, the FBI Legal Attaché office, and its local law enforcement and international partners to tirelessly and aggressively utilize all available investigative tools and methods at their disposal,” said Houston FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner. “Law enforcement and the public must continue to work together to ensure our communities’ safety.”

meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com

Twitter.com/megzmagpie