Maduro ally in US court on money laundering charges

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MIAMI: A close ally of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has appeared in a U.S. federal court to face extensive money laundering and bribery charges following his sudden extradition.

The high-profile appearance comes after Caracas authorities formally deported the individual to the United States to face criminal proceedings. Federal prosecutors allege that the defendant orchestrated a massive international corruption network, utilizing a series of opaque shell companies to funnel millions of dollars in illicit bribes through the U.S. financial system.

The corrupt funds were allegedly used to secure lucrative, state-backed procurement contracts from Venezuelan public entities under the Maduro administration.

The judicial escalation marks a major milestone in Washington's years-long interagency campaign to dismantle the financial network supporting the former regime.

While the defense team argued against the legality of the extraction, the presiding judge ordered the defendant held without bail. The unfolding prosecution highlights ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice to target institutional corruption within South America.