"Venezuela Frees 'Fat Leonard' and American Prisoners in Prisoner Swap"

Venezuela has handed over Leonard Glenn Francis, also known as "Fat Leonard," the mastermind behind a $35 million bribery scheme in the largest corruption scandal in U.S. military history, to the United States as part of a major prisoner swap. In exchange, the U.S. has agreed to grant clemency to Alex Saab, a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was awaiting trial on federal money laundering charges. The swap also includes the release of 10 Americans detained by the Venezuelan government. The prisoner exchange comes amid ongoing negotiations between the two countries, including the easing of sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas industry in exchange for promises of freer elections.