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Just Human Profile picture
@realjusthuman
Jan 6 • 23 tweets • 11 min read • Read on X
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🧵United States v. Carvajal-Barrios
(Maduro Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy Case)

Thread on case background and related cases. Image
Nicolás Maduro Moros. Image
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…Image
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. Image
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/U6YaDImage
Image
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…Image
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. Image
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…Image
March of 2020 the Trump DOJ added Maduro to that case against Carvajal Barrios.

justice.gov/archives/opa/v…Image
And brought charges against a dozen others, all involved in narco-terrorism.

justice.gov/archives/opa/p…Image
At the press conference announcing the charges, these useful charts were presented. Image
Image
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…Image
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…Image
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_SixImage
Hey, remember the graphics AG Barr presented in 2020? The "air bridge" one? Image
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-… Image
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…Image
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…Image
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 Image
Image

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More from @realjusthuman

Just Human Profile picture
Jan 2
🧵United States v. Cole
(J5 Pipe Bomber case)

Prosecutors will seek a superseding indictment against Cole, this time from a federal grand jury, next week. Image
At the detention hearing on Dec 30, we learned that prosecutors had a 2-count indictment against Cole from a "local grand jury," meaning one empaneled by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia—not one empaneled by the federal court.

This method of getting an indictment is currently under review at the Court of Appeals.

Read 5 tweets
Just Human Profile picture
Jan 2
🧵United States v. Cole
(J5 Pipe Bomber case)

Defendant Brian J. Cole, Jr. to remain in custody pending trial. Image
"According to the government’s proffer in support of detention, its investigation pointed to Mr. Cole for at least the following reasons:" Image
More reasons for continued detention Image
Read 8 tweets
Just Human Profile picture
Dec 31, 2025
🧵Richman v. United States
(Arctic Haze search warrant material case)

ORDER: DOJ must get a search warrant for Arctic Haze/Richman materials seized from Richman in 2017, 2019, and 2020.

And that includes materials under seal in the EDVA and within DOJ "component" offices. Image
Backstory:

Just days after United States v. Comey was dismissed for Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan being unlawfully appointed, Daniel Richman, who is Person 3 from the indictment in the Comey case, filed a civil case against the DOJ.
Richman wants the property he volunteered to DOJ in 2017 and the materials that were seized from him pursuant to the four Arctic Haze search warrants in 2019 and 2020 to be returned to him.
Read 30 tweets
Just Human Profile picture
Dec 31, 2025
🧵United States v. Cole
(J6 Pipe Bomber case)

Minute Entry:
Following today's detention hearing, Cole remains held without bond as the judge considers each side's motions.

1/5 Image
MINUTE ORDER:

A D.C. Superior Court grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Cole for the same two counts charged in the criminal complaint—18 U.S.C. 844(d) and 844(i).

This indictment has not been filed publicly but was presented to the judge yesterday.

2/5 Image
Federal prosecutors using a local grand jury in this way is a new thing in DC. It came about thanks to the Trump Admin's push to neutralize criminal activity in the capital.

But the issue is currently before the Court of Appeals.

3/5
archive.is/14vO2Image
Read 5 tweets
Just Human Profile picture
Dec 30, 2025
🧵United States v. Cole
(J6 Pipe Bomber case)

New filing from Defense opposing Cole being held in jail pending trial.

"Mr. Cole should be released pending trial because the governing, multi-factor analysis demonstrates that bail is required..."

Hearing today at 1pm. Image
"The defense’s position is that the government cannot continue to keep Mr. Cole in custody absent a valid finding of probable cause." Image
"Probable cause or not, Mr. Cole should be released pending trial."

"two essential principles of law that govern bail hearings"

1) The default position is release unless there is "a concrete, prospective threat to public safety that cannot be mitigated"

2) Guilt is irrelevant; only the evidence that the defendant is dangerous matters as regards a bail hearing.Image
Read 21 tweets
Just Human Profile picture
Dec 29, 2025
🧵United States v. Cole
(J6 Pipe Bomber case)

NEW FILING: Cole CONFESSED to making and planting the pipe bombs on J5

and

The J5 pipe bombs had nothing to do with the events of J6.
There's some new info in this filing:

- The post-arrest interview was hours long and video recorded.

- "Over the next approximately one and one-half hours, the defendant walked the interviewing agents in detail through his construction, transportation, and planting of the pipe bombs."

- Brian Cole Jr "reset" or "wiped" his Samsung smartphone 943 times between December 2020 and December 2025.

- The pipe bombs "were viable explosive devices."

- FBI found pipe bomb components in Cole Jr's home and in his vehicle.

-"According to the defendant, 'no one knows' his political views, including his family."

- "He made the black powder in the devices using charcoal, Lilly Miller sulfur dust, and potassium nitrate that he purchased from Lowes."

- He "denied that his actions were directed toward Congress or related to the proceedings scheduled to take place on January 6."

- Motive: "he explained that 'something just snapped' after 'watching everything, just everything getting worse.' The defendant wanted to do something 'to the parties' because 'they were in charge.' 'I really don’t like either party at this point.'"
The most important takeaway from the filing:

The J5 pipe bombs had nothing to do with the events of J6.

None of the popular narratives about the pipe bombs and how they fit into either side's J6 story are correct.
Read 8 tweets

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