The Associated Press, ex Latin America correspondent based in Miami, a city settled by my fellow Clevelanders Tips via Signal: 786-643-1883 or [email protected]
Joined January 2012
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Even as it battled the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history, the DEA permitted hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to hit the streets of New Mexico from 2023-25, according to current and former agents and DEA records reviewed by AP.
W/ @JimMustian
apnews.com/article/dea-fenta…
Venezuela has so far been silent about the arrest, reflecting the challenge @delcyrodriguezv faces appeasing ruling elites that want her to resist pressure by Trump to round up scores of insiders wanted for crimes ranging from bribery to drug trafficking.
apnews.com/article/venezuela…
Selective prosecution?
As a universal crime torture can be charged anywhere. But it rarely is in the U.S.
“Ex Maduro officials whom the Trump administration has now co-opted as its new allies are likely as complicit in torture as he is," says @KenRoth.
apnews.com/article/maduro-ve…
The new indictment appears to rely on the testimony of one of Maduro’s co-defendants, Gen. Hugo Carvajal, aka El Pollo.
Since pleading guilty last year to drug charges, the ex spymaster has been meeting with prosecutors building the case against Maduro.
apnews.com/article/maduro-ve…
Venezuela's "silence is devastating" to Maduro's claims that he is immune from U.S. criminal charges, prosecutors argue in new filing.
Unlike in other cases, where @delcyrodriguezv has asserted sovereign immunity for herself, lawyers for 🇻🇪have made no such claim for Maduro.
Judge Damian condemned ex Rep. Rivera for betraying his life’s work, saying he would have been judged harshly by Miami exiles had he taken millions from Cuba's communist regime instead of its allies in Caracas.
“I don’t think this is different” she said.
apnews.com/article/rivera-ve…
Trump drops Venezuela from U.S. blacklist of countries not doing enough to fight drug trafficking.
Says Colombia, under @AbelardoPTE, is "poised to resume its place as [U.S.'] foremost partner" in drug war but Mexico must do "far more," including attacking public corruption!!!
Will Alex Saab testify against Maduro?
In pleading guilty Tuesday, Saab said the corruption scheme “had the approval, participation and protection" of Venezuela's highest authorities, including an individual described only as “Government Official 1A."
apnews.com/article/saab-vene…
Alex Saab is scheduled to appear before Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami on Tuesday to plead guilty.
The details of the plea were not immediately known but Saab faces a single count of money laundering.
apnews.com/article/maduro-al…
Venezuelan First Lady Cilia Flores seeks pre-trial release due to several medical, cardiac conditions.
NY-based @GuidepostGlobal would provide armed security and 24-hour monitoring as part of the proposed bail deal, according to Guidepost exec and ex DEA #2 Louis Milione.
NEW: @GOPoversight launches investigation of DEA’s fentanyl walking
“Not to intercept significant shipments is unconscionable and undoubtedly resulted in considerable harm and lives lost”
W/ @JimMustian apnews.com/article/fentanyl-…
House Republicans have launched an investigation into allegations the DEA allowed huge volumes of fentanyl to ‘walk’ to build bigger cases.
The probe comes after New Mexico sued as part of their probe of the controversial policing tactic.
W @JimMustian
apnews.com/article/fentanyl-…
Among Joan Rubinger’s star clients was longtime Panthers LB Thomas Davis, who swore by her pain-relief miracle cream “The Goo”
The DEA said the nurse practitioner prescribed Davis more than 13,000 pain pills from 2019-2024.
@JimMustian @epells
apnews.com/article/dea-opioi…
Joan Rubinger treated some of the biggest names in sports.
Behind the scenes, the DEA alleges, the nurse practitioner prescribed tens of thousands of painkillers and coached clients on how to avoid detection.
w/ @JimMustian @epells
apnews.com/article/dea-opioi…
Co-defendant of ex GOP Congressman David Rivera sentenced to 5 years in prison for role in secret, $50 million lobbying campaign paid by Venezuela’s government.
Local officials, friends packed Miami courtroom as political consultant Esther Nuhfer was read the verdict.
NEW: DOJ watchdog launches probe of fentanyl "walking" in wake of @AP investigation, seeking to determine whether DEA allowed the deadly drug to hit the streets of cities other than Albuquerque w/
w/ @JimMustian
apnews.com/article/fentanyl-…
Co-defendant for Jordan Goudreau seeks to depose Trump in criminal case over 2019 Venezuela raid.
In a longshot motion to subpoena Trump, Alvarez argues @POTUS can bolster her defense that the White House secretly OK'd the harebrained raid — or that she honestly believed it had.
Trump administration intervenes in lawsuit to shield acting President @delcyrodriguezv from having to pay $314 million judgement awarded to three Americans imprisoned in Venezuela.
In filing, DoJ argues Rodriguez enjoys head of state immunity.
Context: apnews.com/article/venezuela…
The $314 million default judgement is the largest to date amid a slew of lawsuits filed by Americans imprisoned in Venezuela.
Acting president Rodriguez was not affected after lawyers for her appeared in April seeking to dismiss the complaint.
apnews.com/article/venezuela…
“This is a stunning failure by the federal government,” @GovMLG says in strongest response yet to AP reporting showing that the DEA allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pill to hit the streets to build bigger cases. “It’s disgusting.”
W/ @JimMustian
apnews.com/article/dea-fenta…
Joshua Goodman retweeted
The New Mexico attorney general has opened a criminal investigation into the DEA
He is demanding agency records to determine whether agents' fentanyl walking in Albuquerque reflects a "broader pattern of reckless or unlawful behavior" nationally
Latest⬇️
apnews.com/article/dea-fenta…
