Maduro ally Alex Saab pleads guilty to money laundering in US court
As part of the plea agreement, Saab agreed to cooperate with ongoing federal investigations in the United States and to hand over 195 million dollars (some €168.9 million) derived from the corruption scheme.
Former Venezuelan official Alex Saab has pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in a US court, according to prosecutors. Saab, who was once an aide to former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and is required to forfeit $195 million (£145 million) as part of the plea deal. The charges against Saab stem from allegations that he embezzled money from a welfare plan for hungry Venezuelans and transferred some of the funds to US bank accounts.
The US government has expressed its intention to hold Saab accountable for his alleged crimes, stating that he will not be allowed to protect any person or identity through false information or omission. Saab's plea deal included a condition that he would fully cooperate with US prosecutors. He was extradited to the US from Venezuela in May and was initially charged in 2020 with money laundering for allegedly siphoning $350 million out of Venezuela.
However, former US President Joe Biden granted Saab clemency in 2023 as part of a prisoner swap. Maduro and his wife, former First Lady Cilia Flores, are currently facing trial in New York on weapon and drug charges, which they deny.
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