Federal prosecutors are preparing to file new charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, accusing them of torturing American citizens held in Venezuelan prisons, according to sources familiar with the matter. The upcoming legal actions could also target other individuals allegedly involved in the mistreatment of more than a dozen Americans wrongfully detained under Maduro’s administration. An announcement regarding the charges could arrive as early as Thursday. Barry Pollack, an attorney representing Maduro, stated he has received no formal notice regarding any additional charges. Meanwhile, Flores is scheduled to appear in the Southern District of New York federal court on Thursday for a bond hearing, with a tentative trial date set for June 2027. Representatives for the Justice Department did not immediately provide a comment on the development. Previously in January, a federal grand jury indicted Maduro and Flores for their alleged involvement in a massive drug trafficking scheme to flood the United States with cocaine. The couple was taken into custody during a U.S. military operation and transported to the United States, where they have entered not guilty pleas. Prosecutors claim Maduro led a corrupt regime that collaborated with narco-terrorists to enrich himself and senior government officials. Maduro currently faces four federal counts, including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. The original case stems from a March 2020 indictment in the Southern District of New York. Defense attorneys have asked U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein to dismiss the drug trafficking charges based on foreign leader immunity, though arguments on the motion have not yet taken place. The broader federal investigation into the regime also saw former Venezuelan Minister of Industry Alex Saab plead guilty to money laundering in September and agree to cooperate with authorities.
Source: cbsnews.com
