New Torture Charge Filed Against Nicolás Maduro and His Wife
Sandego.net – Federal prosecutors in New York have added a conspiracy-to-commit-torture charge against Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, expanding a criminal case that already includes narcoterrorism conspiracy allegations. The new accusation concerns alleged abuse of Americans and other detainees in Venezuela during Maduro’s rule.
Maduro and Flores have denied the charges and remain held without bail in New York. They were taken from the presidential palace in Caracas during a US military raid in January and later pleaded not guilty to narcoterrorism conspiracy and related allegations.
Prosecutors allege that, after taking office in 2013, Maduro approved torture against chosen targets and directed a broader system of arbitrary detention, violence and mistreatment intended to silence political opponents. Venezuela’s government is not asserting immunity for Maduro, prosecutors have said, while his legal team challenges the legality of his arrest and argues that he should be immune for conduct alleged during his presidency.
Allegations Involving American Detainees
More than a dozen US citizens were detained in Venezuela during Maduro’s presidency. US officials and advocates have said that some Americans were held as political leverage by the Venezuelan government. Prosecutors are also considering possible charges against other people who may have participated in the alleged abuse.
One account in the indictment involves an American accused of taking part in a plot to kill Maduro. Authorities allegedly arrested and tortured him in January 2022 before he returned to the United States in October. Prosecutors say he was later transferred to Boleita Norte prison, where he was held for more than eight months.
The officers punched him in the face and abdomen, covered his face, and poured a noxious liquid over his face that caused him to vomit, which the officer then forced him to eat.
The indictment further alleges that the detainee was electrocuted, forcibly injected with a substance that caused seizures, beaten, asphyxiated and denied food and water. It also says he witnessed other Americans being tortured at the facility.
Details Cited in the Expanded Indictment
Prosecutors describe alleged violence against a Venezuelan military officer, including repeated strikes with a live electrical wire and beatings with fists, belts and what appeared to be a pipe. The officer was allegedly suspended by his hands and feet and subjected to simulated drowning about 30 times.
The most recent alleged incident dates to January 2025, after Venezuela’s presidential election. Prosecutors say a US citizen was arrested at home while officials were looking for someone else, taken to a detention-center basement with his hands restrained, and beaten repeatedly over two days. The alleged attack caused a lasting eye injury.
The accusations involving Nicolás Maduro and his wife add to claims made by former detainees. Matthew Heath and Osman Khan, who were released in an October 2022 prisoner exchange, later alleged in a lawsuit that they endured waterboarding, electric shocks, threats of sexual violence, mind-altering drugs and solitary confinement. Heath, a US Marine veteran, allegedly attempted suicide while detained.
Six American oil executives known as the CITGO 6 were held in Venezuela for nearly five years after traveling there in 2017. They have also alleged harsh and abusive detention conditions.
FAQ: What the Charges Mean for Americans
What is the new charge against Maduro and Flores? The added count alleges conspiracy to commit torture in connection with the treatment of Americans and other detainees in Venezuela.
Have Nicolás Maduro and his wife been convicted? No. They have denied the allegations, and the criminal case remains pending in New York.
What happens next? Flores was expected to seek home confinement before trial, while Maduro’s lawyers continue to challenge his arrest and assert immunity arguments. Prosecutors must prove the allegations in court.
