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[INTERNATIONAL] · United States, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico · 19 sources

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Alex Saab expected to plead guilty in Miami federal money laundering case

Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, is expected to plead guilty on Tuesday in a Miami federal court. The change of plea hearing, presided over by Judge Kathleen M. Williams, marks a significant shift from Saab’s previous stance in July, when he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Saab faces charges including money laundering, conspiracy to conduct illicit financial transactions, and concealment of the origin of funds. Prosecutors allege that Saab participated in a scheme using shell companies and falsified documents to profit from Venezuelan government contracts, specifically those related to food imports from Colombia and Mexico.

The legal proceedings follow Saab’s deportation from Venezuela in May 2026. Saab had previously been detained in Cabo Verde in 2020 and was later released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange during the Biden administration. The anticipated guilty plea has resulted in the cancellation of a jury trial that was originally scheduled to begin on November 16.

Legal experts and officials suggest that Saab’s plea could have broader implications, as U.S. prosecutors may seek to use him as a witness in ongoing investigations involving Nicolás Maduro.

Entities

Alex Saab · Delcy Rodríguez · Kathleen M. Williams · Kathleen Williams · Miami · Nicolás Maduro · United States Department of Justice

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