Alex Saab, a former Venezuelan minister and ally of Nicolás Maduro, has pleaded guilty to a US money laundering conspiracy and agreed to forfeit $195 million.
Saab entered the guilty plea on Tuesday before a federal judge in Miami, Florida. Under the agreement, he will also cooperate with US prosecutors and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
According to the US Justice Department, Saab admitted to participating in a scheme involving bribery, fraudulent public contracts and money laundering linked to Venezuela’s food and medicine programme, known as CLAP. Prosecutors said the scheme involved securing government contracts through bribes and then using fake companies, invoices and shipping records to conceal the movement of money. Saab also admitted to using shell companies to move proceeds through the international financial system, including the United States.
Saab’s case has attracted attention because of his close ties to Maduro. However, the plea agreement does not specifically state that he will testify against the former Venezuelan president.
Dan Thomas Resigns as Reform Wales Leader After Arrest
US prosecutors have separately brought charges against Maduro. Saab’s cooperation agreement could provide information to investigators, but the exact assistance he will provide has not been publicly detailed.
Saab was previously prosecuted in the United States after his 2020 arrest in Cape Verde. He was accused in that case of helping siphon about $350 million from Venezuela through a corruption scheme. Former US President Joe Biden granted Saab clemency in December 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange. Saab later returned to Venezuela.
US authorities arrested him again in May 2026 after a new indictment was unsealed. The Justice Department said the new case was built around his alleged role in a broader scheme involving Venezuela’s public food and medicine contracts.