Deported Maduro Ally Charged With Money Laundering in US (1)

A close associate of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made his first appearance in Miami federal court after being sent to the US over the weekend to face money-laundering charges.

Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman who became one of Venezuela’s most influential financial operators, on Monday stood before a US judge in handcuffs and khaki prison fatigues, his hair still in a signature ponytail.

“Es correcto señoría, (it’s correct, your Honor),” Saab answered US Magistrate Judge Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein in Spanish after she asked him if he understood the charges.

The May 16 deportation and subsequent court appearance of Saab, ...