Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have filed sweeping new criminal charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, accusing them of personally directing a brutal torture operation that targeted dozens of victims, including American citizens who suffered beatings, electric shocks, and psychological abuse.

State-Sponsored Terror Machine

The updated indictment alleges Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, a former attorney general, ran a systematic torture program through Venezuela’s military intelligence agency beginning in 2013. U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald called the conduct truly unthinkable and the epitome of corruption. Prosecutors claim Maduro personally suggested torture methods, requested updates on specific victims, watched forced confession videos, and threatened to kill prisoners’ children. He allegedly laughed while hearing about prisoner abuse.

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“As alleged in the indictment, the Maduro regime subjected over a dozen American citizens to torture while held in custody of the Venezuelan government — including drugs, electrocution, sexual assault, and more,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement on social media.

Nicolas Maduro, wife face torture charge in new U.S. indictment

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6:02 PM · Oct 8, 2026

The charges follow Maduro’s military capture from his Caracas home in January. Both he and Flores already faced federal drug trafficking charges for allegedly conspiring to flood America with cocaine. The couple has pleaded not guilty and their lawyers argue they possess diplomatic immunity as former leaders of a foreign nation. Attorney Barry Pollack said Maduro denies the charges and looks forward to his day in court.

American Victims Identified

Three American citizens suffered documented torture under Maduro’s regime, according to the indictment. One man detained in early 2022 endured electric shocks and was forced to eat his own vomit during eight months of imprisonment. Another victim was beaten severely enough to require lengthy hospitalization and had a gun forced into his mouth. A third American was handcuffed, hooded, and beaten every thirty minutes for two straight days, suffering permanent eye damage. The victim descriptions match Osman Khan and former Marine Matthew Heath, both released in October 2022.

Power Through Fear

Prosecutors say Maduro authorized torture to maintain his grip on power after succeeding Hugo Chavez in 2013. As a former bus driver lacking military credentials, Maduro feared rebellion from Venezuela’s armed forces as the oil-dependent economy collapsed and protesters filled the streets. The indictment describes torture victims matching prominent opposition figures including Leopoldo Lopez, who spent over three years imprisoned, and former Defense Minister Raul Baduel, who died in custody in 2021. The International Criminal Court has separately investigated Maduro for years over alleged crimes against humanity related to his crackdown on political opponents.