Maduro faces new charge of torturing U.S. citizens in custody

Nicolas Maduro (left) the ousted president of Venezuela, is escorted off a helicopter en route to the federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5. | VINCENT ALBAN / THE NEW YORK TIMES

Oct 9, 2026

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife face a new criminal charge that they are responsible for the alleged torture of U.S. citizens detained in the South American country.

Prosecutors in New York filed the new criminal count Thursday, adding to existing charges against Maduro, 63. The government specifically said that Maduro conspired in the torture of nine people, three of whom were U.S. citizens.

Venezuelan officers detained an American identified only as “Victim-7,” who was tortured over two or three days, then transferred to a prison where he endured beatings, electric shocks, asphyxiation, forced injections and deprivation of food and water over 8½ months, according to the new court filing. At least two other U.S. citizens allegedly suffered similar torture and injuries.

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