Alex Saab, a businessman described by U.S. officials as a close ally and alleged financial operative for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, is scheduled to plead guilty Tuesday in a federal money laundering case in Miami. Saab’s plea hearing before Judge Kathleen Williams is set for Tuesday, according to court records.
Saab was arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 while on what Venezuela’s government termed a high-level humanitarian mission and was subsequently extradited to the United States. He was charged with a single count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, stemming from an alleged scheme to create shell companies and falsify records to profit from Venezuelan government contracts for importing food.
The case against Saab gained further attention in late 2023 when President Joe Biden’s administration pardoned him in exchange for the release of several Americans imprisoned in Venezuela. This deal, part of an effort to encourage democratic reforms in Venezuela, drew criticism from Republicans and law enforcement officials. Federal prosecutors reportedly began investigating Saab for other alleged crimes not covered by the pardon.
U.S. authorities have long referred to Saab as Maduro's "bagman," suggesting he played a crucial role in managing illicit finances. His potential testimony could be significant in ongoing investigations against Maduro himself, who faces separate charges in Manhattan.
Saab became a prominent figure in Venezuela following his 2020 arrest, with the Maduro government dedicating substantial resources to advocate for his release. Venezuela’s then-Vice President Delcy Rodríguez publicly defended Saab, calling him an "innocent Venezuelan diplomat."
However, following Maduro’s capture, Rodríguez distanced herself from Saab, removing him from his government positions. Saab had amassed considerable wealth through his dealings with the Venezuelan government, particularly as U.S. sanctions pushed Venezuela to conduct its oil sales and international trade outside of traditional Western financial systems.
The indictment accuses Saab and others of establishing a network of companies to bribe Venezuelan officials involved in the CLAP program, which aimed to supply staple foods to impoverished citizens amid hyperinflation and currency devaluation. Prosecutors allege that this network, through Saab, extended its influence to billions of dollars in oil sales from the state-run oil company PDVSA.