Five Families Sue Maduro Over 6 FAES Killings in U.S. as He Awaits Drug Trial
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 1
Five Families Sue Maduro Over 6 FAES Killings in U.S. as He Awaits Drug Trial
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 1
Summary
Five Venezuelan families filed a civil suit in Brooklyn accusing Nicolás Maduro of commanding FAES in five incidents between 2017 and 2021 that allegedly killed six men and tortured three relatives.
The complaint says Maduro created the police unit in 2017, oversaw a campaign of pre-dawn raids and staged crime scenes, and later defended FAES despite criticism from the United Nations and rights groups.
The families seek compensatory and punitive damages under the Torture Victim Protection Act, arguing Venezuela's courts failed to investigate or hold senior officials accountable.
Brooklyn detention gives the Eastern District of New York venue for the case, opening a second U.S. legal front as Maduro awaits trial on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.
As Maduro faces U.S. justice, will his country's vast oil wealth fund its recovery or foreign interests?
Can a former president's claim of immunity protect him from charges of torture and extrajudicial killings in a U.S. court?
Nicolás Maduro on Trial: U.S. Criminal and Civil Proceedings for Narco-Terrorism and Human Rights Abuses (2026)
Overview
Nicolás Maduro, the former Venezuelan president, was captured by U.S. forces and is now incarcerated in New York, where he faces serious criminal charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. His arrest led to a high-profile U.S. court case, with prosecutors calling it a major effort to hold a former head of state accountable for global crimes. A key issue in his defense has been the funding of his legal team, which was resolved when the U.S. government allowed the use of certain Venezuelan state assets for his legal fees. The case highlights both legal and diplomatic complexities.