In short
- Alex Saab, a former Venezuelan official and aide to Nicolás Maduro, pleaded guilty to US money laundering charges in a Miami court on Tuesday.
- Under the plea deal, Saab, 54, must forfeit $195m and co-operate fully with US prosecutors, and could face up to 20 years in prison.
- Nicolás Maduro and his wife, former first lady Cilia Flores, face trial next year in New York on weapon and drug charges, which they deny.
- Saab was extradited to the US in May by Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took over from Maduro.
- In 2020, Saab was extradited to the US over an alleged $350m scheme in Venezuela; former US President Joe Biden granted him clemency in 2023 as part of a prisoner swap.
Alex Saab, a former Venezuelan official and aide to former President Nicolás Maduro, pleaded guilty to US money laundering charges in a Miami court on Tuesday and agreed to forfeit $195m. The 54-year-old former Colombian businessman also agreed to co-operate fully with US prosecutors and could face up to 20 years in prison.
What are the terms of Alex Saab’s plea deal?
Saab accepted the agreement on Tuesday in a court in Miami, Florida, after having previously committed to fight the charges. Under the deal he must forfeit $195m (£145m) and co-operate fully with US prosecutors, and could face up to 20 years in prison. The agreement does not specifically mention the New York case against Maduro, but states that Saab “will not protect any person or identity through false information or omission”.
Why is the case being closely watched?
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, former first lady Cilia Flores, face trial next year in New York on weapon and drug charges, which they deny. The couple were seized by the US military in a raid in Caracas in January. Saab’s plea deal has raised speculation that he could testify against Maduro at trial. Chavismo, the movement associated with Maduro, has called a march to the Miraflores presidential palace.
Who is Alex Saab?
Saab is a former Colombian businessman accused of embezzling money from a welfare plan for hungry Venezuelans and transferring some of the proceeds to US bank accounts. Venezuela has faced chronic shortages of food and medicine as a result of years of political and economic crisis. He was extradited to the US in May by Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took over from Maduro.
What happened in the earlier case against Saab?
This is the second US criminal case against Alex Saab. In 2020 he was extradited to face money laundering charges for allegedly siphoning $350m out of Venezuela, but former US President Joe Biden granted him clemency in 2023 as part of a prisoner swap.
What has the FBI said?
“Criminals like Alex Saab who stole from the people of Venezuela and worked to exploit and misuse American financial institutions to fund illicit activities will be held accountable by this FBI,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
What is the political context in Venezuela?
Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado has asked citizens to be “alert to the signs”, saying the country is one step away from change.
Maduro’s government has also registered another board of directors at the company Monómeros.
Frequently asked questions
What did Alex Saab plead guilty to?
Alex Saab, a former Venezuelan official and aide to Nicolás Maduro, pleaded guilty to US money laundering charges in a Miami court on Tuesday. Under the deal he must forfeit $195m and co-operate fully with US prosecutors.
How long could Alex Saab be sentenced to?
He could face up to 20 years in prison, according to the terms reported with his plea agreement.
Why does Alex Saab’s case matter for Nicolás Maduro?
Maduro and his wife, former first lady Cilia Flores, face trial next year in New York on weapon and drug charges, which they deny. Saab’s plea deal has raised speculation that he could testify against Maduro at trial.
Who extradited Alex Saab to the United States?
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took over from Maduro, extradited Saab to the US in May.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Sergei Gussev / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
