{"id":2147530,"date":"2026-09-15T04:27:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T01:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2147530"},"modified":"2026-09-15T04:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T01:27:18","slug":"maduro-ally-alex-saab-expected-to-plead-guilty-in-federal-money-laundering-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2147530","title":{"rendered":"Maduro ally Alex Saab expected to plead guilty in federal money laundering case"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/35\/05\/1200x675_cmsv2_d88a2091-3623-520d-8c01-8ce12a133b91-9913505.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2926268-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2926268\" data-cid=\"9916138\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926268-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/61\/38\/189x106_cmsv2_5d24af12-a137-504e-8e9d-86a39442d05e-9916138.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Canada&apos;s Prime Minister Mark Carney, arrives to attend the annual State of the European Union at the European Parliament in Strasbourg\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU &#8211; Canada: Standing ovation for Mark Carney at European Parliament\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926259-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2926259\" data-cid=\"9916129\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926259-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/61\/29\/189x106_cmsv2_42b5569e-26a4-58e3-9592-364363c22e5d-9916129.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Celebrated playwright and novelist Bonnie Greer dies aged 77 \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Celebrated playwright and novelist Bonnie Greer dies aged 77\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926250-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2926250\" data-cid=\"9916047\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926250-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/60\/47\/189x106_cmsv2_0db5cdff-acb7-538c-af57-b9ae0aa2ff1e-9916047.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File - Langdock co-chief executives Lennard Schmidt and Judith Dada. Courtesy of Langdock.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Business<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    German AI start-up spends millions to move parent company from the US\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923956-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2923956\" data-cid=\"9905145\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2923956-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/51\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_7028a99c-8370-5587-a134-0e13bd89c342-9905145.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A trained service dog and its handler at the National Canine Centre in Tashkent\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Uzbekistan<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Sniffing out trouble: Customs dogs remain vital in the age of AI\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926268-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2926268\" data-cid=\"9916138\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926268-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/61\/38\/189x106_cmsv2_5d24af12-a137-504e-8e9d-86a39442d05e-9916138.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Canada&apos;s Prime Minister Mark Carney, arrives to attend the annual State of the European Union at the European Parliament in Strasbourg\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU &#8211; Canada: Standing ovation for Mark Carney at European Parliament\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926259-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2926259\" data-cid=\"9916129\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926259-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/61\/29\/189x106_cmsv2_42b5569e-26a4-58e3-9592-364363c22e5d-9916129.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Celebrated playwright and novelist Bonnie Greer dies aged 77 \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Celebrated playwright and novelist Bonnie Greer dies aged 77\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926250-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2926250\" data-cid=\"9916047\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926250-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/60\/47\/189x106_cmsv2_0db5cdff-acb7-538c-af57-b9ae0aa2ff1e-9916047.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File - Langdock co-chief executives Lennard Schmidt and Judith Dada. Courtesy of Langdock.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Business<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    German AI start-up spends millions to move parent company from the US\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923956-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2923956\" data-cid=\"9905145\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2923956-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/51\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_7028a99c-8370-5587-a134-0e13bd89c342-9905145.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A trained service dog and its handler at the National Canine Centre in Tashkent\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Uzbekistan<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Sniffing out trouble: Customs dogs remain vital in the age of AI\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          News<\/p>\n<p>                          World<\/p>\n<p>                          Venezuela<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Maduro ally Alex Saab expected to plead guilty in federal money laundering case<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/35\/05\/1536x864_cmsv2_d88a2091-3623-520d-8c01-8ce12a133b91-9913505.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"FILE - Venezuela&apos;s President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Alex Saab stand together during an event marking the anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew dictator Marcos Perez\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              FILE &#8211; Venezuela&#8217;s President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Alex Saab stand together during an event marking the anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew dictator Marcos Perez<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspJerry Fisayo-Bambi&amp;nbspwith&amp;nbsp<b>AP<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1789446150\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-09-15 06:22:30 +02:00\">15\/09\/2026 &#8211; 6:22 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"06:27\">6:27<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-close\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content u-display-flex\">\n<div id=\"share-comment-popup-content-container\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__container u-display-flex\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"facebook\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"facebook\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"twitter\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"twitter\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"flipboard\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Flipboard<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"flipboard\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"send\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Send<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"send\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"reddit\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Reddit<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"reddit\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"linkedin\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Linkedin<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"linkedin\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"messenger\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Messenger<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"messenger\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"telegram\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Telegram<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"telegram\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Charged with a single count of money laundering tied to an alleged conspiracy to create fake companies and falsify shipping records, Saab is scheduled to appear before Judge in Miami on Tuesday for a change of plea hearing, according to court records.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Alex Saab, a close ally of deposed Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, is scheduled to enter a guilty plea on Tuesday in a court prosecution alleging that he bribed officials to secure lucrative contracts to import food during a period of widespread hardship in the South American nation. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Deported in May by Venezuela\u2019s acting President Delcy Rodriguez in response to pressure from the US, which has been targeting the Colombian-born businessman for more than a decade, Saab is charged with a single count of money laundering tied to an alleged conspiracy to create fake companies, falsify shipping records and skim from government contracts to import food from Colombia and Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>He is scheduled to appear before Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami on Tuesday for a change of plea hearing, according to court records. <\/p>\n<p>The details of the plea were not immediately made public, and Saab\u2019s attorney, Neil Schuster, declined to comment, but prosecutors allege Saab and others allegedly expanded their corrupt influence deep inside the Maduro government, accessing billions of dollars in oil sales from state-run oil company PDVSA. <\/p>\n<p>The new indictment accuses Saab and others of setting up a web of companies to bribe top Venezuelan officials controlling contracts for the so-called CLAP programme set up by Maduro to provide staples \u2014 rice, corn flour, and cooking oil \u2014 to poor Venezuelans at a time of rampant hyperinflation and a crumbling currency.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.666\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/35\/05\/808x539_cmsv2_eb8f96b7-0c53-5674-bd14-a16c42140557-9913505.jpg\" alt=\"Venezuelan President Maduro, center left, embraces Alex Saab after Saab arrived at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. \"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Venezuelan President Maduro, center left, embraces Alex Saab after Saab arrived at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. <\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The 54-year-old was previously charged during the first Trump administration in 2019 and then arrested during a refuelling stop in Cape Verde on what the Venezuelan government described as a high-level humanitarian mission to Iran.<\/p>\n<p>But President Joe Biden pardoned him in 2023 in exchange for the release of several imprisoned Americans in Venezuela. The deal, part of a failed effort by the Biden White House to lure Maduro into holding a free presidential election, was harshly criticised by Republicans and federal law enforcement officials, who immediately began investigating Saab for other alleged crimes not covered by the narrowly tailored pardon.<\/p>\n<p>US officials have long described Saab as Maduro\u2019s \u201cbag man\u201d and could ask him to serve as a character witness against the former president, who is awaiting trial on drug charges in Manhattan after being captured in a raid by the US military in January.<\/p>\n<h2>Saab&#8217;s prosecution comes amid new US-Venezuela relations<\/h2>\n<p>Saab was little known even in Venezuela until after his first arrest, in 2020, when Maduro\u2019s government invested huge resources rallying public support for his release.<\/p>\n<p>Rodr\u00edguez, then serving as Maduro\u2019s vice president, helped mount an international campaign in which she referred to Saab as an \u201cinnocent Venezuelan diplomat\u201d who had been illegally \u201ckidnapped\u201d by Washington.<\/p>\n<p>But following Maduro\u2019s capture, Rodr\u00edguez distanced herself from Saab, firing him from her cabinet and stripping him of his role as the main conduit for foreign companies looking to invest in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\" id=\"abe-article-related-1\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife look to end drug charges on immunity grounds<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">BP returns to Venezuela with Gulf partners as post-Maduro energy opening speeds up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>His prosecution now comes as the Trump administration overhauls relations with Venezuela, focusing its attention on tapping into Venezuela\u2019s vast oil reserves. <\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, Trump announced what he called the \u201cbiggest oil deal in history\u201d with Venezuela, a partnership with Venezuelan oil entrepreneur Alejandro Betancourt in which Washington will gain a stake and access to at-cost crude shipments from oil fields with a potential to produce 65 billion barrels.<\/p>\n<p>Saab amassed a fortune through Venezuelan government contracts but became even more valuable to Maduro as US sanctions forced Venezuela to conduct much of its oil sales and foreign trade outside of Western financial institutions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  US energy firms significantly expand operations in Venezuela after Washington&#8217;s oil deal with Caracas<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  US strikes deal to control 65 billion barrels of Venezuela&#8217;s oil reserves, Trump says<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Venezuela earthquake damages add up to almost $20 billion, World Bank says<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  money laundering<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Venezuela<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  prosecutor<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Fraud<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926138-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926138\" data-cid=\"9915433\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926138-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/54\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_9de4d450-80ea-5690-a43a-609a4a7b8816-9915433.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    State of the Union: Five takeaways from Ursula von der Leyen&#8217;s speech<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926195-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926195\" data-cid=\"9915698\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926195-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/56\/98\/320x180_cmsv2_1cf2b042-b2d3-5973-a39f-45227bb9729e-9915698.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Von der Leyen \u2018horrified\u2019 by Mladi\u0107 funeral, holds off Serbia action<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926136-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926136\" data-cid=\"9915431\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926136-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/54\/31\/320x180_cmsv2_38c74e8f-b4c9-59fc-9726-00d06fd9adb0-9915431.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Canada&apos;s Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for the 2026 State of the European Union in Strasbourg.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canada invited to become first &#8216;associate member&#8217; of the EU<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2925777-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925777\" data-cid=\"9915506\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2925777-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/36\/38\/320x180_cmsv2_e5c5b8e6-f6f4-5cd2-bb43-02482e66bc49-9913638.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The &quot;Woman, Life, Freedom&quot; movement\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Four years since Mahsa Amini, rights groups warn crackdown persists<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926242-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926242\" data-cid=\"9915979\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926242-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/59\/79\/320x180_cmsv2_f9da159e-4387-5de6-b5c5-9ed1e141b41f-9915979.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Mark Carney, and Ursula von der Leyen, from left to right.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canada in talks to join EU&#8217;s Erasmus+ exchanges programme<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2925884-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925884\" data-cid=\"9914278\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US threatens EU with retaliation over European preference in EU budget<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2925953-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925953\" data-cid=\"9914566\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canada, heatwaves and Ceuta: Von der Leyen delivers State of the Union<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2925862-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925862\" data-cid=\"9914196\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Is this sport?&#8217;: Sydney Sweeney faces backlash from female athletes over nude advert<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2925954-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925954\" data-cid=\"9914606\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump blasts Supreme Court over mail-in ballot ruling<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2926008-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926008\" data-cid=\"9914887\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Belarus launches drills near Suwalki Gap on NATO&#8217;s eastern flank<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926138-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926138\" data-cid=\"9915433\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926138-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/54\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_9de4d450-80ea-5690-a43a-609a4a7b8816-9915433.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    State of the Union: Five takeaways from Ursula von der Leyen&#8217;s speech<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926195-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926195\" data-cid=\"9915698\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926195-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/56\/98\/320x180_cmsv2_1cf2b042-b2d3-5973-a39f-45227bb9729e-9915698.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Von der Leyen \u2018horrified\u2019 by Mladi\u0107 funeral, holds off Serbia action<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926136-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926136\" data-cid=\"9915431\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926136-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/54\/31\/320x180_cmsv2_38c74e8f-b4c9-59fc-9726-00d06fd9adb0-9915431.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Canada&apos;s Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for the 2026 State of the European Union in Strasbourg.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canada invited to become first &#8216;associate member&#8217; of the EU<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2925777-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925777\" data-cid=\"9915506\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2925777-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/36\/38\/320x180_cmsv2_e5c5b8e6-f6f4-5cd2-bb43-02482e66bc49-9913638.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The &quot;Woman, Life, Freedom&quot; movement\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Four years since Mahsa Amini, rights groups warn crackdown persists<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926242-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926242\" data-cid=\"9915979\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926242-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/59\/79\/320x180_cmsv2_f9da159e-4387-5de6-b5c5-9ed1e141b41f-9915979.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Mark Carney, and Ursula von der Leyen, from left to right.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canada in talks to join EU&#8217;s Erasmus+ exchanges programme<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2925884-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925884\" data-cid=\"9914278\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US threatens EU with retaliation over European preference in EU budget<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2925953-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925953\" data-cid=\"9914566\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canada, heatwaves and Ceuta: Von der Leyen delivers State of the Union<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2925862-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925862\" data-cid=\"9914196\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Is this sport?&#8217;: Sydney Sweeney faces backlash from female athletes over nude advert<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2925954-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925954\" data-cid=\"9914606\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump blasts Supreme Court over mail-in ballot ruling<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926008-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926008\" data-cid=\"9914887\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Belarus launches drills near Suwalki Gap on NATO&#8217;s eastern flank<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Alex Saab, a close ally of deposed Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, is scheduled to enter a guilty plea on Tuesday in a court prosecution alleging that he bribed officials to secure lucrative contracts to import food during a period of widespread hardship in the South American nation.Deported in May by Venezuela\u2019s acting President Delcy Rodriguez in response to pressure from the US, which has been targeting the Colombian-born businessman for more than a decade, Saab is charged with a single count of money laundering tied to an alleged conspiracy to create fake companies, falsify shipping records and skim from government contracts to import food from Colombia and Mexico.He is scheduled to appear before Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami on Tuesday for a change of plea hearing, according to court records.The details of the plea were not immediately made public, and Saab\u2019s attorney, Neil Schuster, declined to comment, but prosecutors allege Saab and others allegedly expanded their corrupt influence deep inside the Maduro government, accessing billions of dollars in oil sales from state-run oil company PDVSA.The new indictment accuses Saab and others of setting up a web of companies to bribe top Venezuelan officials controlling contracts for the so-called CLAP programme set up by Maduro to provide staples \u2014 rice, corn flour, and cooking oil \u2014 to poor Venezuelans at a time of rampant hyperinflation and a crumbling currency.The 54-year-old was previously charged during the first Trump administration in 2019 and then arrested during a refuelling stop in Cape Verde on what the Venezuelan government described as a high-level humanitarian mission to Iran.But President Joe Biden pardoned him in 2023 in exchange for the release of several imprisoned Americans in Venezuela. The deal, part of a failed effort by the Biden White House to lure Maduro into holding a free presidential election, was harshly criticised by Republicans and federal law enforcement officials, who immediately began investigating Saab for other alleged crimes not covered by the narrowly tailored pardon.US officials have long described Saab as Maduro\u2019s \u201cbag man\u201d and could ask him to serve as a character witness against the former president, who is awaiting trial on drug charges in Manhattan after being captured in a raid by the US military in January.Saab&#8217;s prosecution comes amid new US-Venezuela relationsSaab was little known even in Venezuela until after his first arrest, in 2020, when Maduro\u2019s government invested huge resources rallying public support for his release.Rodr\u00edguez, then serving as Maduro\u2019s vice president, helped mount an international campaign in which she referred to Saab as an \u201cinnocent Venezuelan diplomat\u201d who had been illegally \u201ckidnapped\u201d by Washington.But following Maduro\u2019s capture, Rodr\u00edguez distanced herself from Saab, firing him from her cabinet and stripping him of his role as the main conduit for foreign companies looking to invest in Venezuela.His prosecution now comes as the Trump administration overhauls relations with Venezuela, focusing its attention on tapping into Venezuela\u2019s vast oil reserves.Earlier this month, Trump announced what he called the \u201cbiggest oil deal in history\u201d with Venezuela, a partnership with Venezuelan oil entrepreneur Alejandro Betancourt in which Washington will gain a stake and access to at-cost crude shipments from oil fields with a potential to produce 65 billion barrels.Saab amassed a fortune through Venezuelan government contracts but became even more valuable to Maduro as US sanctions forced Venezuela to conduct much of its oil sales and foreign trade outside of Western financial institutions.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/09\/15\/maduro-ally-alex-saab-expected-to-plead-guilty-in-federal-money-laundering-case&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/35\/05\/1200x675_cmsv2_d88a2091-3623-520d-8c01-8ce12a133b91-9913505.jpg&#8221;] No Comment EU &#8211; Canada: Standing ovation for Mark Carney at European Parliament Culture news Celebrated playwright and novelist Bonnie Greer dies aged 77 Business German AI start-up spends millions to move parent company from the US Uzbekistan Sniffing out trouble: Customs dogs remain vital in the age of AI No Comment [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2147530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2147530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147530\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2147530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2147530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2147530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}