US prosecutors on Thursday, October 8, charged ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores, 69, with conspiracy to commit torture in Manhattan federal court. The new charges were added to an existing drug trafficking case against the couple, who were captured by the US military at their Caracas home on January 3 and flown to New York.
The superseding indictment filed in Manhattan federal court details alleged torture against nine victims, including three American citizens. Prosecutors alleged that Maduro and Flores used state power to maintain their grip on political authority through a system of torture and repression. If convicted on all charges, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 50 years in prison. Both have pleaded not guilty to the original drug charges and have not yet entered pleas to the new torture indictment.
According to the indictment, thousands of Venezuelans were threatened, arrested, tortured, or killed by state forces between 1999 and 2025. The charges detail specific alleged incidents: In 2013, prosecutors said Maduro ordered the arrest of a Venezuelan military officer suspected of planning a coup. Members of Venezuela's military counterintelligence directorate allegedly interrogated the officer by applying electric shocks around 20 times and suspending the individual by hands and feet for extended periods. In another case, prosecutors alleged that in 2022 an American citizen detained while entering Venezuela was accused of conspiring to assassinate Maduro and was tortured through beatings and electric shocks applied to the arms, legs, and genitals.
The torture charges represent the first time Maduro himself has faced criminal charges in the US over alleged torture, despite years of accusations by US officials and human rights groups. Jamie McDonald, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, told reporters outside the courthouse that "Maduro, Flores and other high-ranking members of their inner circle used a violent system of torture and repression to maintain their power." US Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the administration's commitment to accountability and the rule of law in relation to the charges.
On the same day, US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied Flores' request to be released from jail prior to trial. Her lawyers argued that she required cardiac medical care and sought to move her to private home detention in the New York City area with round-the-clock security, contending she posed no danger to the community. Prosecutors opposed the motion, arguing that Flores posed an extreme flight risk and potential danger to the public, including possible witness intimidation. The judge determined that Flores appeared relatively healthy in court and declined to grant bail.
Maduro and Flores have both filed appeals claiming they are entitled to immunity as president and first lady of a sovereign country. Maduro's defense lawyer Barry Pollack stated in a written response that "President Maduro denies the charges in the new indictment and looks forward to his day in court." Flores' lawyers Mark Donnelly and Andres Sanchez similarly denied the allegations and questioned the timing of the indictment's public release.
The case marks a significant escalation in US legal action against the Maduro government. Since Maduro's capture, Venezuela has increased cooperation with the United States under the leadership of Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's former vice president, who now serves as interim leader. The charges are scheduled for trial next June. Relations between the United States and oil-rich Venezuela were strained during Maduro's 13 years in power, but have shifted substantially since his removal from office.
