Former Venezuelan Minister of Industry and close associate of ex-President Nicolás Maduro, Alex Saab, has pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in a U.S. federal court. The admission is part of a deal with the American prosecution. Under its terms, Saab agrees to fully cooperate with the investigation, provide truthful testimony, and forfeit $195 million, which the prosecution claims was obtained through a money laundering scheme. In exchange for his guilty plea and cooperation with U.S. authorities, he hopes for a reduced sentence. The maximum penalty for the charges brought against him is up to 20 years in prison; however, the final sentence will depend on how fully Saab complies with the terms of the deal. The case has garnered special attention because, according to U.S. media, Saab may testify against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both are in custody in New York and awaiting trial on charges related to drug trafficking and other crimes. Court documents indicate that Saab has committed to not conceal information and not mislead the investigation, including not providing false information in the interest of other individuals or organizations. Saab's story has been one of the most high-profile in Venezuelan politics for several years. A native of Colombia, he has been closely linked to the Venezuelan authorities since the time of President Hugo Chávez. Later, according to U.S. investigations, he participated in financial schemes benefiting Nicolás Maduro's government, for which he received Venezuelan citizenship and a diplomatic passport. In 2020, Saab was detained in Cabo Verde at the request of Interpol, and a year later, he was extradited to the U.S. There, he was accused of leading a scheme that, according to investigators, used a food aid program for Venezuela to launder money. Later, in 2023, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Venezuela and returned to Caracas. In the fall of 2024, Maduro appointed him Minister of Industry, but after a change of power in the country in January of this year, Saab was dismissed by the interim administration. The guilty plea and cooperation agreement may become one of the key stages of the American investigation, as the former high-ranking Venezuelan official is now committed to testifying at the request of the investigation.
