Federal judge awards $314 million to 3 Americans held and allegedly tortured in Venezuela
The judge found Maduro-led forces held the men as bargaining chips and cited torture claims under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
- On Tuesday, Judge Darrin P. Gayles in Miami issued a $314 million default judgment against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Alex Saab, and the "Cartel of the Suns" for allegedly torturing and imprisoning three Americans.
- Three Americans, including Jerrel Kenemore who spent 643 days in jail, were abducted in 2022 and held as bargaining chips before a 2023 prisoner exchange involving Saab secured their freedom.
- Judge Gayles wrote in his ruling that the kidnappings were "just one of many crimes" committed to support the "Maduro Criminal Conspiracy," described as a "criminal enterprise" operating within Venezuela.
- Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court are investigating similar abuse allegations, while lawyers for acting President Delcy Rodríguez seek dismissal by claiming immunity from civil litigation.
- The plaintiffs pursued damages under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a federal law allowing victims to seize assets of foreign terror groups, though collecting the $314 million judgment remains a significant legal hurdle.
56 Articles
56 Articles
Miami ruling links Maduro to “hostage diplomacy,” orders $314 million in damages
A federal judge in Miami ordered $314 million in damages to be paid to three US citizens who were imprisoned in Venezuela, where they said they were tortured by intelligence services before being freed in a 2023 exchange with Washington for Colombian businessman Alex Saab.
A Miami judge ordered $314 million in compensation for Americans who reported torture in Venezuela; the sentence points to Nicolás Maduro, Alex Saab and other alleged members of the Cartel de los Soles: know the details of the ruling and who benefits
The judge accused Maduro of kidnapping Americans to exchange them for the release of Venezuelan criminals. The compensation is 314 million dollars.
Conviction results from kidnapping, torture and terrorism against U.S. citizens and also concerns Venezuelan ministers of the Interior and Agriculture. Civil trial follows parallel criminal charges of narcoterrorism in New York
The plaintiffs suffered beatings, isolation, electric shocks and extortion while the Venezuelan dictator planned to use them as a currency of ca...
Federal Judge Awards $314 Million to Three Americans Allegedly Tortured in Venezuela by Maduro Regime. But Will They Ever Collect?
A federal judge in Miami has awarded $314 million in damages to three Americans who were imprisoned and allegedly tortured in Venezuela, ruling that they were victims of what the court described as a "criminal enterprise" led by former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The judgment is the largest of its kind involving Americans detained by Venezuela and marks another legal victory for former prisoners seeking accountability under U.S. anti-te…
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