Maduro Ally Faces New Set of Charges in US

A onetime aide for Venezuela's leadership has flipped in a US courtroom. Alex Saab, a former Colombian businessman and close ally of Nicolas Maduro, pleaded guilty in Miami to money laundering tied to an alleged scheme that siphoned funds from a Venezuelan food program and routed some of the money through US banks, per the BBC. Under the deal, Saab, 54, will forfeit $195 million and has agreed to fully cooperate with prosecutors. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Per the AP, prosecutors say they'll likely shoot for a prison term on the lower end of the recommended range if Saab's cooperation is notable. The agreement doesn't name Maduro, who's set to be tried in New York next year alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, on weapons and drug charges that they reject, per the BBC. But it requires Saab not to shield "any person" through lies or omissions, fueling speculation he could become a key witness in that case.

Reuters notes this is the second round of US criminal charges that Saab has faced. In 2020, he was arrested in Cape Verde, then extradited to the United States on money laundering charges tied to a bribery scheme out of Venezuela involving $350 million. President Biden granted Saab clemency in that case in late 2023 as part of a prisoner swap.