The $314 million award marks the largest judgment to date for Americans seeking compensation after being imprisoned in Venezuela.
Federal Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami ruled in favor of three Americans who were previously jailed and allegedly tortured in Venezuela. Venezuelan authorities accused the men of spying and imprisoned them in 2022. They were released by the Venezuelan government, under former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in 2023 as part of secret negotiations between the U.S. and Venezuela to release a Colombian-born journalist to Venezuela.
The three men have been awarded $314 million in damages after suing seven top Venezuelan officials, including the current acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Judge Gayles issued his judgment after the Venezuelan defendants failed to respond to the lawsuit. President Rodríguez was not included in the ruling, as her lawyers appeared in April and proved that she is immune from civil action in the United States. This is the largest judgment to date among lawsuits filed by Americans who were previously imprisoned in Venezuela.
Similar allegations of abuse and mistreatment are still under investigation by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For federal judges as they hear and decide cases regarding the imprisonment and torture of U.S. citizens.
- For U.S. officials as they continue to negotiate with Venezuela and for relief workers contributing to the earthquake recovery efforts.
Sources: NY Post, MSN, AP News
