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Alex Saab Pleads Guilty to Laundering From Venezuela’s CLAP Program

His plea includes a $195 million forfeiture with a cooperation agreement that could supply evidence against senior Venezuelan officials.

Colombian businessman Alex Saab (C) speaks next to his wife, Camilla Fabri (R), at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas on December 20, 2023. Saab, alleged to be a "front man" for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, arrived in the Caribbean country after being released from the United States, where he was on trial for money laundering. (Photo by Federico Parra / AFP)
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Overview

  • Saab pleaded guilty in Miami on Tuesday to a single count of conspiracy to launder money tied to Venezuela’s subsidized food program known as CLAP and faces a statutory maximum of 20 years with sentencing pending.
  • Court filings say Saab admitted to profiting roughly $195 million by using shell companies, false invoices, and cross‑border transfers to divert money from food and medicine contracts.
  • Under the plea deal Saab agreed to forfeit $195 million, to help locate and disclose assets, and to cooperate with U.S. investigators as part of an agreement that could reduce his sentence if prosecutors find his assistance substantial.
  • Prosecutors say Saab’s cooperation may produce testimony or evidence about high‑level Venezuelan participants but legal limits, claims of immunity, and diplomatic complications could constrain any cases against senior officials.
  • The case follows a long timeline: a 2019 U.S. indictment, Saab’s 2020 Cape Verde arrest and 2021 extradition, a 2023 U.S. pardon and prisoner swap, a new indictment in January 2026, and Saab’s return to U.S. custody in May 2026.