Overview

• U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal approved prosecutors’ request to drop two counts alleging unlawful foreign agent activity under FARA
• The remaining 12 charges accuse Henry and Imelda Cuellar of conspiracy, bribery and money laundering tied to payments from an Azerbaijan-run energy company and a Mexican bank
• Prosecutors said Attorney General Pam Bondi’s February memo restricted FARA‐based charges to traditional espionage-type conduct, prompting the dismissals
• Defense attorney Eric Reid argues the removed counts are central to the prosecution’s case and has filed a motion seeking full dismissal of the indictment
• By joint motion of both parties, the Houston trial was postponed from September 2025 to April 6, 2026