NEW YORK. – The deposed leader of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduroand his wife, Cilia Flores, They will appear on Monday in a New York court Charges for drug trafficking and other crimes will be the first step a legal process that is likely to drag on for yearsand that means a shocking change of scenery for the couple: from the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas to the harsh and grim reality of preventive detention in a federal prison in Brooklyn.
Maduro’s case is being monitored by Alvin K. Hellerstein, United States Federal District Judgea 92-year-old lawyer who was already in charge of the case filed against Maduro in 2020 and who has handled numerous major cases during his nearly three decades in office, including matters related to the September 11 attacks And on the genocide in Sudan.
The judge was already skeptical of the government’s arguments of the American President, Donald Trumpin other high-profile cases.
The indictment alleges that for more than 25 years, Maduro and other Venezuelan leaders have “abused their positions of public trust and corrupted institutions that were then legitimate.” import tons of cocaine into the USA“.
The accusation also claims that Maduro and his allies “They provided security force support and logistical support.” to important drug trafficking groups, such as Sinaloa Cartel and the Aragua train. According to the Justice Department, these criminal organizations sent profits to high-ranking officials who in return protected them.
Among other things, Maduro is specifically accused the sale of Venezuelan diplomatic passports to known drug traffickers and to facilitate flights under diplomatic cover to bring drug trafficking profits from Mexico back to Venezuela.
Maduro was specifically accused of four counts: drug terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, Possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
This is expected of Maduro and his wife they plead innocent. At the same time, It is almost certain that the judge will order his arrestand it could happen It takes more than a year for a jury to convene to evaluate the evidence against him.
But the prosecution of a leader of a sovereign state captured in his country in a highly choreographed military operation is likely to raise arguments rarely heard in a U.S. court.
For example, Maduro’s lawyers might question: the legality of his arrest and transfer to the United States. They could also claim that he was in his capacity as head of state of Venezuela enjoys immunity from criminal proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New Yorkhowever, is a department of the Ministry of Justice famous for his steadfast independence and aggressive law enforcementwhere famous cases have already been committed against drug dealers, gangsters and media representatives – such as that of the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernándezsentenced to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking and later pardoned by Trump.
The same prosecutor’s office had already filed formal charges against Maduro in 2020.with the same four charges. The updated indictment, released Saturday, includes new details and co-defendants, including Maduro’s wife.
Judge Hellerstein, Born in New York in 1933was a lawyer in the U.S. Army and previously practiced in the private sector Appointed to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton in 1998 and confirmed by the Senate in October of the same year. In January 2011 he assumed the status of superior judge.
Hellerstein was already there before the Maduro fall led the proceedings against some of the co-defendants of the Chavista leader.
In April 2024 the judge condemned retired Venezuelan Army General Cliver Alcalá to more than 21 years in prison. And on February 23rd plans to impose a sentence against a former Venezuelan intelligence chiefRetired Major General Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajalformer director of Venezuela’s military intelligence, who managed to become one of the most important figures in Chavismo.
In 2023 Carvajal was extradited to the United States to face federal charges in connection with drug trafficking and firearms possession in connection with the so-called Sun Cartel.
The statement of the former deputy and former head of the Chavista regime’s intelligence services, who made the decision work together with the authorities, will play an important role in the Maduro process.
In 2003, Hellerstein agreed to hear a case involving several airlines and the airport security company Pinkerton. The case was brought by people injured in the September 11 attacks–YesRepresentatives of the deceased and persons who have suffered material damage.
In September of the following year and before the deadline expired, the insurers of the World Trade Center filed a lawsuit against it American Airlines, United Airlines and the airport security company Pinkertonon the grounds that their negligence allowed the planes to be hijacked.
Much of the judge’s career was marked by his intervention in civil cases related to Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer whose downfall sparked the “#MeToo” movement.
Although Hellerstein was not responsible for prosecuting the trial, he played a fundamental role in directing the resulting trials Allegations of widespread sexual abuse and exploitation against the film industry tycoon.
Hellerstein also made headlines in recent years when he rejected Trump’s requests to move the federal judiciary his criminal case for paying money to silence a porn actress.
The judge noted that Trump’s refunds are due Michael Cohen, who facilitated payments to adult film actress Stormy DanielsThese were not official acts related to his presidency. Trump is still appealing this decision.
Last year, Hellerstein rejected attempts to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members Foreign Enemies Actconsidering that the administration Trump wrongly invoked this war legislation.
AP and Reuters agencies and newspapers The New York Times And The time (GDA)
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