US Secures Release of Ally of Venezuelan President Maduro in Prisoner Exchange, Including 'Fat Leonard'

Ten Americans who had been jailed in Venezuela are set to be released and will return to the United States after a deal was reached between the Biden administration and the Venezuelan government. The agreement involves the release of an ally of President Nicolás Maduro, Alex Saab, who was arrested in 2020 for his alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme. The Americans will land in San Antonio, Texas, and six of them were wrongfully detained. As part of the arrangement, a notorious figure known as "Fat Leonard" was arrested and returned to the U.S. The agreement also requires the release of 20 Venezuelan political prisoners and the suspension of arrest warrants for three other Venezuelans.