Biden Pardoned Him In 2023. Now Maduro Ally Alex Saab Is Set To Plead Guilty

A close ally of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is expected to plead guilty in a US federal money laundering case over allegations that he bribed officials to secure lucrative food import contracts during a period of severe hardship in Venezuela.

Alex Saab, 54, is scheduled to appear before US District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami on Tuesday for a change of plea hearing, according to court records. Saab previously pleaded not guilty in the case. The details of the expected plea have not been made public, and his lawyer Neil Schuster has declined to comment.

The Colombian born businessman faces a single money laundering charge linked to an alleged conspiracy involving fake companies, falsified shipping records and money skimmed from government contracts to import food from Colombia and Mexico.

The case centres on Venezuela’s subsidised food programme, known as CLAP, which was created to provide food to struggling Venezuelans. US prosecutors allege that Saab and his associates used corrupt arrangements and manipulated transactions to profit from government contracts.

Saab’s expected plea also brings renewed attention to a controversial chapter in US Venezuela relations.

Saab was first charged in 2019 during Donald Trump’s first administration. He was later arrested in Cape Verde during a refuelling stop while travelling to Iran on what the Venezuelan government described as a high level humanitarian mission.

After spending more than a year in detention, Saab was extradited to the United States in 2021. But in December 2023, President Joe Biden pardoned him as part of a prisoner exchange that secured the release of several Americans detained in Venezuela.

The deal was part of the Biden administration’s unsuccessful effort to persuade Maduro to hold a free presidential election. It was strongly criticised by Republicans and US federal law enforcement officials, who argued that Saab could still face scrutiny over alleged crimes outside the scope of the narrowly tailored pardon.

Saab later returned to Venezuela and became an important figure in Maduro’s government. He was returned to US custody in May 2026 following pressure from Washington, bringing the long running legal saga back to a Miami courtroom.

The development is particularly significant because Saab has long been described by US authorities as a key financial operator for Maduro. His expected guilty plea could potentially provide prosecutors with information about the financial networks surrounding the former Venezuelan government.

However, there is no confirmation that Saab has agreed to cooperate with US authorities or testify against Maduro.

The case has gained fresh importance following Maduro’s own capture and US prosecution. The former Venezuelan leader faces separate US drug trafficking charges, with his trial currently scheduled for 2027.