Portillo faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the single count of money laundering conspiracy he is charged with. He was extradited to the United States last week. This is his first appearance in a U.S. court.
Even though a court in Guatemala cleared Portillo of embezzlement charges in 2011, the Supreme Court of Guatemala endorsed a request for extradition submitted by the United States.
After the courthouse hearing was over, David Rosenfield, a lawyer for Portillo said, "This is a case of over-reaching" and that his client would vigorously defend himself. Rosenfield also told the court that Portillo's lung problem is worsening due to the powerful air conditioning at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he is being held. Portillo also suffers from a heart ailment.
He is also accused of embezzling $3.9 million from the Guatemalan Ministry of Defense, though a court in Guatemala has already cleared him of that charge.
Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said in a statement, "After three years of fighting his extradition, Alfonso Portillo has finally arrived in the United States to answer for his alleged misappropriation of millions of dollars intended for the benefit of the people of Guatemala."
