A federal judge in Miami has ordered a $314 million judgment for three American citizens who were imprisoned and subjected to alleged torture by a criminal network linked to former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The men—Jerrel Kenemore, Jason Saad, and Edgar Marval—were released in 2023 as part of a high-stakes prisoner exchange that saw the Biden administration secure their freedom in return for Alex Saab, a businessman widely considered Maduro's key financial fixer who had been facing money laundering charges in the United States.
Judge Darrin P. Gayles issued the default judgment on Tuesday after the defendants failed to respond to the legal action. The ruling targets Maduro, Saab, five other individuals, and the “Cartel of the Suns,” a purported drug-trafficking organization composed of senior military figures. While other officials like acting President Delcy Rodríguez were named in the initial complaint, they were excluded from this specific ruling after legal counsel entered an appearance to contest the court's jurisdiction, citing immunity as a head of state—a claim the plaintiffs continue to challenge.
In his 19-page decision, Judge Gayles described the kidnappings as criminal acts designed to sustain Maduro’s dictatorial grip on the country. The lawsuit, filed under the federal Anti-Terrorism Act, allowed the victims to seek damages by targeting the assets of those they identified as their captors. The court noted that the victims suffered intense physical and psychological abuse, including electrocution, beatings, and forced stress positions, which continue to impact their lives today. Similar allegations of systemic abuse are currently under scrutiny by the International Criminal Court.
The experiences of the three men highlight the risks faced by Americans caught in the political volatility of Venezuela. Jerrel Kenemore, a computer professional from Fort Worth, Texas, was abducted by armed gunmen near the Colombian border in 2022 after living in the region for some time. He spent 643 days in detention. Jason Saad, an Alabama native, was working in the construction industry in Venezuela when he was arrested, while Edgar Marval, who operated a business in Florida, was also detained by the nation's military intelligence police. All three men alleged they were accused of espionage and subsequently used as bargaining chips by the Venezuelan government during sensitive negotiations with Washington.
Representatives for Alex Saab and Delcy Rodríguez did not provide comments regarding the judgment. The case represents the largest financial award granted to date in a series of legal actions brought by Americans previously held in Venezuela. While the Trump administration formally designated the “Cartel of the Suns” as a foreign terrorist organization in 2020, the former president and his associates have consistently denied the existence of such a cohesive criminal structure, dismissing the allegations of state-sponsored corruption and human rights abuses.
A lawyer for Saab, who is once again in U.S. custody facing new charges after Rodríguez handed him over to U.S. authorities in May, declined to comment. Lawyers for Rodríguez didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The former president has denied any wrongdoing and some observers doubt that corruption that has long festered inside Venezuela’s barracks has led to the creation of a cohesive drug smuggling group that functions like other Latin American cartels.
