🧵United States v. Carvajal-Barrios
(Maduro Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy Case)
Thread on case background and related cases.
Nicolás Maduro Moros.
The case against Maduro, titled U.S. v. Carvajal-Barrios, is not a new one.
It was first brought in March of 2011.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Hugo Armando Carvajal-Barrios aka "El Pollo"
"The Chicken"
Is a former Venezuelan military and intel officer, served under Chavez, and became a key leader in the Cartel de Los Soles.
He was a "Chavista" and turned against Maduro in 2019, then fled the country.
That same year, 2019, the US announced charges against two Columbians who worked closely with Maduro's Regime and had engaged in a $350mil birbery and money laundering scheme.
Alex Saab Moran and Alvaro Pulido Vargas
Saab was also Maduro's liaison to Hezbollah and the Iranian Regime.
archive.md/U6YaD
Saab was captured in Cabo Verde when his jet stopped to refuel. He was on his way to Tehran at the time.
He was later brought to the U.S.
I have an article on it here.
justhuman.substack.com/p/another-swam…
I do wonder if Saab, whom Biden sent back to Venezuela in a prisoner exchange for 10 Americans and fugitive Leonard Francis aka "Fat Leonard," helped the U.S. gather intel on Maduro's operations.
He had worked as a DEA source a time or two before...
cbsnews.com/news/biden-ven…
Anyway, so back to "The Chicken" and the case against Maduro.
January 2020
Pursuant to EO 13884, the Treasury Dept's OFAC identifies 15 aircraft used by Maduro and Co to transport narcotics and sanctioned individuals.
home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…
March of 2020 the Trump DOJ added Maduro to that case against Carvajal Barrios.
justice.gov/archives/opa/v…
And brought charges against a dozen others, all involved in narco-terrorism.
justice.gov/archives/opa/p…
At the press conference announcing the charges, these useful charts were presented.
The cases announced that day originated out of several districts: DC, SDNY, EDNY, SDFL, SDTX, and D. Ariz.
It was a big friggin' deal.
justice.gov/archives/opa/p…
A little over a year later, "The Chicken" was found hiding in Europe. I'm not sure if anyone got the $10mil reward that was on offer for him.
September 2021 - arrested in Spain
July 2023 - extradited to the U.S.
June 2025 - Pleads Guilty
Currently awaiting sentencing.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/f…
Another related case is United States v. Campo and Flores.
Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freitas are nephews of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
DEA captured them in Haiti in 2015.
cnn.com/2015/11/11/ame…
This became known as the Narcosobrinos Affair.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcosobr…
The nephews were convicted in 2016 and alter sentenced to 18 years in prison.
But...
In October 2022, Biden swapped them back to Venezuela in exchange for five Americans held hostage and used as political pawns for years—the "Citgo Six"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citgo_Six
Hey, remember the graphics AG Barr presented in 2020? The "air bridge" one?
September 2024
The US, pursuant to EO 13884 and starts grabbing aircraft used by Maduro's Regime to transport narcotics and sanctioned members of FARC, Cartel de los Soles, and similar groups.
justice.gov/archives/opa/p…
And again in February 2025
justice.gov/opa/pr/united-…
August 2025
Maduro's bounty is DOUBLED to $50 million.
I think that may be the highest ever reward offered by the Rewards for Justice program.
For comparison, the program offered $25 million for Osama bin Laden.
justice.gov/opa/video/atto…
January 3, 2025
Maduro is captured.
In capturing Maduro, the Trump Admin, U.S. Law Enforcement, and the U.S. Military may have decoupled Venezuela, and potentially the Western Hemisphere, from China, Iran, and Russia.
My next video will be on this.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Another fun fact to know about this whole thing (there are so many I could submit, but this one is brand new).
Maduro's defense counsel is Barry J. Pollack.
Pollack also represented another infamous Russian asset:
Julian Assange
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