Alex Saab, the closest ally of Nicolás Maduro, the ousted president of Venezuela, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a count of money laundering related to a bribery scheme to win government contracts in this South American country.
Details of the Plea and Agreement
As part of this agreement, Saab committed to cooperating in federal investigations and forfeiting $195 million in illegal proceeds from this corruption scheme. Saab, 54, was deported to the United States in May by order of Delcy Rodríguez, the interim president of Venezuela. He had been pursued by U.S. authorities for over a decade.
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Potential Consequences and Saab's Cooperation
The crime of money laundering can carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence lower than the suggested range and to seek additional leniency if his cooperation is deemed valuable. Saab had previously been charged during Donald Trump's presidency in 2019 and was arrested while refueling in Cape Verde.
In court, Saab told Judge Kathleen Williams that he takes the antidepressant Zoloft daily and other medications to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his detention in 2020.
Background and Saab's Connections
Joe Biden granted Saab clemency in 2023 in exchange for the release of several American prisoners in Venezuela. This agreement was part of the White House's unsuccessful effort to entice Maduro into holding free presidential elections and faced severe criticism from Republicans and federal officials.
U.S. officials have described Saab as Maduro's "right-hand man" and may ask him to testify as a character witness against the former president, who is awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges in Manhattan.
The new case against Saab and Maduro continues as the Trump administration is reassessing its relations with Venezuela and focusing on accessing the country's vast oil reserves. This month, Trump announced a partnership with Alexandro Betancourt, a Venezuelan oil entrepreneur, in which the U.S. government would gain a stake and access to oil shipments at production costs from fields with the potential to produce 65 billion barrels.
Saab was unknown until his arrest in 2020 due to Maduro's support. Rodríguez, who was serving as Maduro's vice president at the time, launched an international campaign for Saab's release, describing him as an "innocent Venezuelan diplomat" who was "illegally kidnapped." However, after Maduro's arrest, Rodríguez distanced herself from Saab and removed him from her cabinet.
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Source: abcnews.com
