World News
Former Maduro ally Alex Saab pleads guilty to US money laundering charge
Businessman agrees to forfeit $195 million and assist federal investigations under plea deal
The short version
- Alex Saab pleaded guilty in Miami federal court to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments tied to Venezuelan bribery schemes.[Al Jazeera]
- As part of a plea agreement, Saab agreed to forfeit $195 million in criminal proceeds and assist ongoing federal investigations against co-defendants.[ABC News]
- Saab was deported back to the U.S. in May by Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez after being previously pardoned in 2023.[ABC News]
- A formal sentencing date has not yet been set by the court.[ABC News]
Key facts
- Alex Saab pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court in Miami to a single count of money laundering conspiracy.[ABC News · Al Jazeera]
- Saab agreed to forfeit $195 million in criminal proceeds and cooperate with federal investigations.[ABC News · Al Jazeera]
- The charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, but prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence at the low end of the range.[ABC News · Al Jazeera]
- Saab was deported to the U.S. in May by Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- A sentencing date for Alex Saab has not been scheduled.[Al Jazeera]
- The exact sentence reduction Saab will receive remains uncertain and depends on the value of his cooperation against unnamed co-defendants.[ABC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.