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“It is necessary to conduct this operation unilaterally and without notifying Venezuelan officials,” reads the 15-page 2018 memo expanding “Operation Money Badger,” an investigation that authorities say targeted dozens of people, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Within weeks, senior DEA officials plotted to deploy at least three undercover informants to surreptitiously record top officials suspected of converting Venezuela into a narco state. And “to limit or mitigate the exposure of the unilateral activities,” the document advised DEA officials to protect their informants and curtail in-person meetings with targets. I think they figured they had nothing to lose.”RELEASED BY ACCIDENTThe Operation Money Badger memo was never intended to be made public. The DEA memo authorized three informants to secretly record undercover meetings with the targets.

Persons: –, ”, Nicolás Maduro, Maduro’s, Alex Saab, Wes Tabor, “ We’re, Maduro, “, Biden, ” Maduro, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden, ” —, Evan Criddle, William & Mary, there’s, Mike Vigil, Manny Recio, John Costanzo Jr, Costanzo, ” Michael Nadler, Washington –, launderer, Jose Vielma, Hugo Chávez, Vielma’s, Luis Motta, Vielma, Motta, Motta’s, Zach Margulis, Hugo Carvajal, Jennifer Farrar Organizations: MIAMI, The Associated Press, U.S . Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, Justice, AP, CIA, State, Justice Department, U.S, Attorney’s, Democratic, Supreme, William &, Saab, Miami Field Division’s, IRS Locations: Venezuela, United States, U.S, America, Venezuelan, Miami, Manhattan, Russia, China, OPEC, Mexico, Virginia, “, Colombian, New York, Houston, Washington, Investigative@ap.org

☆ Venezuela's ex-spymaster pleads not guilty to US drug trafficking charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hugo Carvajal, 63, arrived in the United states on Wednesday after being extradited from Spain. "General Carvajal looks forward to fighting these outrageous charges in court before an unbiased American jury," Margulis-Ohnuma told reporters after the hearing. The drugs were ultimately bound for the United States, according to prosecutors. Dozens of Venezuelan military leaders, politicians and businessmen have been charged by the United States with corruption and drug trafficking. He was arrested in Spain on the U.S. drug charges later that year, but went into hiding after a court initially approved his extradition.

Persons: Hugo Carvajal, Judge Stewart Aaron, Zachary Margulis, Ohnuma, Carvajal, General Carvajal, Hugo Chavez's, El, Chavez, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Luc Cohen, Daniel Wallis Organizations: YORK, Department of Justice, U.S, American, U.S . State Department, Washington, Thomson Locations: United, Spain, Manhattan, Mexico, Venezuela, United States, Washington, Caracas, Aruba, Netherlands, Maduro, New York

☆ Venezuela ex-spymaster arrives in US to face drug charges after extradition
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID/NEW YORK, July 19 (Reuters) - The former head of Venezuela's military intelligence, Hugo Carvajal, arrived in the United States on Wednesday to face drug trafficking charge after being extradited from Spain, his lawyer said. Carvajal is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Thursday morning, said his lawyer, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma. Prosecutors say Carvajal in 2006 coordinated the shipment of 5,600 kg (1,235 pounds) of U.S.-bound cocaine to Mexico from Venezuela. Carvajal is also wanted in Venezuela on charges including treason and financing terrorism. "I hope the United States ... delivers to Venezuela a criminal like Hugo Carvajal," Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela's Maduro-aligned legislature, told reporters on Wednesday.

Persons: Hugo Carvajal, Carvajal, Zachary Margulis, El, Hugo Chavez's, Nicolas Maduro, Chavez, Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela's, Emma Pinedo, Luc Cohen, Deisy Buitrago, William Maclean, Mike Harrison, Daniel Wallis Organizations: MADRID, of Human, U.S, Washington, Thomson Locations: United States, Spain, Manhattan, Madrid, The U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, New York, Caracas

☆ European court denies effort by Venezuela ex-official to avoid US extradition
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CARACAS, July 13 (Reuters) - The European Court of Human Rights has denied an effort by a former director of Venezuelan military intelligence, wanted on drug trafficking charges by the United States, to avoid extradition from Spain. Carvajal was arrested in September 2021 at a Madrid apartment by Spanish police and is being held in Estremera, outside of the capital. He has denied supporting cocaine trafficking to the United States. "In any event, General Carvajal is looking forward to clearing his name in an American court," Margulis-Ohnuma added. Reporting by Luc Cohen and Vivian Sequera; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Conor Humphries and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hugo Carvajal, Hugo Chavez's, Nicolas Maduro, Carvajal, Mr Carvajal Barrios, Zachary Margulis, General Carvajal, Luc Cohen, Vivian Sequera, Julia Symmes Cobb, Conor Humphries, Sandra Maler Organizations: European, of Human Rights, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Spain, Madrid, Estremera, Aruba

☆ Ex-JPMorgan executive Staley to be questioned under oath about Epstein ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It has in turn sued Staley, arguing he concealed what he knew about Epstein's trafficking and should cover any damages the bank may face in the cases. Staley left JPMorgan in 2013, a few months after the bank fired Epstein, and served as Barclays' (BARC.L) chief executive from 2015 to 2021. Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, a lawyer who has represented sex trafficking victims and defendants, said he expected the plaintiffs to "grill" Staley on his knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking and whether it affected the handling of Epstein's accounts. Staley also said JPMorgan had "unclean hands" given its own mistakes in dealing with Epstein. Epstein killed himself at age 66 in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Persons: Jes Staley, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Jed Rakoff, Staley, Jamie Dimon, Zachary Margulis, Jeff Epstein, Luc Cohen, Nupur Anand, Noeleen Walder, Daniel Wallis Organizations: YORK, JPMorgan Chase, U.S ., JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Thomson Locations: U.S, U.S . Virgin Islands, Manhattan, Florida, Virgin, New York

Bankman-Fried initially had said he would fight extradition after his arrest a week ago in the Bahamas, where he lives and FTX is based. Reuters reported first on Saturday that Bankman-Fried would return to court to reverse his decision, citing a source. Bankman-Fried's defense lawyer however told Magistrate Shaka Serville that he does not know why Bankman-Fried was brought to court this morning. LONG ROAD TO EVENTUAL TRIAL[1/7] The Founder and former CEO of crypto currency exchange FTX Sam Bankman-Fried arrives at the Magistrate Court building in Nassau, Bahamas December 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dante Carrer 1 2 3 4 5Upon being extradited to the United States, Bankman-Fried would be required to appear before a judge in Manhattan within two days, though the hearing would likely take place quickly.

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, is expected to appear in court in the Bahamas on Monday and agree to be extradited to the United States, where he faces fraud charges. Bankman-Fried initially said he would fight extradition after his arrest a week ago in the Bahamas, where he lives and FTX is based. Reuters reported first on Saturday that Bankman-Fried would return to court to reverse his decision. Upon being extradited to the United States, Bankman-Fried would be required to appear before a judge in Manhattan within two days, though the hearing would likely take place quickly. Any trial of Bankman-Fried is likely more than a year away, legal experts told Reuters.

☆ Exclusive: Sam Bankman-Fried to reverse decision on contesting extradition
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Jasper Ward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

His decision to consent to extradition would pave the way for him to appear in U.S. court to face wire fraud, money laundering and campaign finance charges. At his initial court hearing in Manhattan, Bankman-Fried would be asked to enter a plea and a judge would make a determination on bail, Margulis-Ohnuma said. The attorney added that such a hearing must take place within 48 hours of Bankman-Fried's arrival in the United States, though it would likely be sooner. Bankman-Fried has acknowledged risk management failings at FTX but has said he does not believe he has criminal liability. 'BIGGEST FINANCIAL FRAUDS IN AMERICAN HISTORY'It was not immediately clear what prompted Bankman-Fried to change his mind and decide not to contest extradition.

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