Fact Finder
Venezuela after Maduro: the criminal case, the oil agreement, the revenue account and the election timeline
Maduro and Cilia Flores face five federal counts in New York and have pleaded not guilty. Officials describe a 100-year oil agreement and a US-run revenue account. No presidential election date has been set.
In development
The criminal case is pending. Court dates are as on the docket on Nov. 13, 2026 and may change.
Built from published records and reports; we show what each claim rests on, not a verdict of our own.
About this format and its limits
This page sets out what is documented about Venezuela since Jan. 3, 2026: the criminal case against Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores, the oil agreement, the custody account for Venezuelan export revenue, and the election timeline.
Charges in an indictment are accusations. Maduro and Flores have pleaded not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Court dates and filings come from the SDNY docket (1:11-cr-00205) as mirrored by CourtListener, read on Nov. 13, 2026. Other claims say who asserts them.
Where officials or outlets give different figures, each version is listed with its source. Figures are as of the date given.
At a glance
- Maduro and Flores face five federal counts in New York, including narco-terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to commit torture. Both have pleaded not guilty. S21S46
- After Judge Alvin Hellerstein died, the case was reassigned to Judge Analisa Torres on Oct. 28, 2026. The docket lists oral argument on Dec. 17, 2026 and trial on June 14, 2027. S46S48
- Per the White House, NABEP gave the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital a 35% equity stake in its corporate parent and the State Department the right to buy 20% of output at production cost, plus first refusal on the rest. S22
- The State Department's report for Jan. 3-Sept. 30, 2026 lists $12.26 billion in deposits, $12.11 billion disbursed and a $168.56 million custody balance at Sept. 30. S23
- No presidential election date had been announced as of Nov. 10, 2026. The State Department says the US follows a three-phase plan. S54S70
| Count | Charge | Statutory penalty (per DOJ) |
|---|---|---|
| One | Narco-terrorism conspiracy | 20-year mandatory minimum, up to life |
| Two | Conspiracy to commit torture | Up to 20 years |
| Three | Cocaine importation conspiracy | 10-year mandatory minimum, up to life |
| Four | Possession of machineguns and destructive devices | 30-year mandatory minimum, up to life |
| Five | Conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices | Up to life |
These are accusations, not findings of guilt. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. Per the DOJ, the penalties are statutory maximums and minimums set by Congress; any sentence would be set by the judge only after a conviction.
Timeline
- Maduro and Flores apprehended Maduro and Flores are apprehended in Caracas and brought to New York, per the government's court filing. S47S37 3 related claims: Capture and transition
- Arraignment in New York Maduro pleads not guilty to four counts and Flores to three counts of the S4 indictment; both remanded, per the docket. S46 7 related claims: The criminal case
- Rodriguez sworn in Delcy Rodriguez is sworn in as acting president at the National Assembly. S50S51 3 related claims: Capture and transition
- Executive Order 14373 The order defines specified Venezuelan government funds held in US custody. S24 5 related claims: Where the money went
- Trial date set Judge Hellerstein adopts a schedule: oral argument Nov. 17, 2026; trial June 1, 2027. S46 7 related claims: The criminal case
- White House fact sheet The White House describes 100-year concessions on 17 fields and a 35% equity stake in NABEP's parent. S22 6 related claims: The oil deal
- Dismissal motions filed Maduro's lawyers file motions to dismiss, including on sovereign-immunity grounds, per the docket. S46 7 related claims: The criminal case
- Senators request records The letter requests information about Venezuelan natural-resource revenues. S26 5 related claims: Where the money went
- Prosecution responds Prosecutors file their opposition to the dismissal motions. S47 7 related claims: The criminal case
- Release Torture charge added A superseding indictment (S5) adds a conspiracy to commit torture charge; the docket shows an unsealing order that day. S21S20S46 7 related claims: The criminal case
- OFAC designation removal OFAC lists Jorge Rodriguez among designation removals. S25 4 related claims: Elections and governance
- Not-guilty pleas to S5 Maduro and Flores plead not guilty to the S5 indictment. Oral argument moved to Dec. 17, 2026 and trial to June 14, 2027. S46S36 7 related claims: The criminal case
- Trial judge dies; case reassigned Judge Hellerstein dies. The docket records reassignment to Judge Analisa Torres the same day. S38S49S46 7 related claims: The criminal case
- Schedule kept Judge Torres orders that all deadlines and appearances set by Judge Hellerstein, including the trial date, remain in effect. S48 7 related claims: The criminal case
- Strike on ELN camp A drone strike hits an ELN camp in Apure state; reported death tolls range from at least 19 to at least 23. S58S59S60 1 related claim: Security operations
- Three-phase plan reaffirmed Rubio meets Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco; the State Department readout reaffirms a three-phase plan. S54 4 related claims: Elections and governance
- Renewed dismissal motions Maduro and Flores file motions to dismiss the S5 indictment on sovereign-immunity grounds; Maduro also moves to dismiss Count Two for lack of venue. S46 7 related claims: The criminal case
- Exxon memorandum ExxonMobil says it signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with PDVSA. S65S66 6 related claims: The oil deal
- Release Custody account report released The State Department publishes its report on the account for Jan. 3-Sept. 30, 2026. S23 5 related claims: Where the money went
Claims
Each claim shows the kind of evidence behind it and how well it is sourced. Sourcing describes the reporting, not whether a claim is true. Open Details for who says so, excerpts and sources.
Showing 5 of 26 claims
Capture and transition 0 of 3 claims
- C1
Maduro and Flores were apprehended in Caracas on Jan. 3, 2026 and brought to New York to face federal charges.
Details for claim C1
The Trump administration has called the raid a "surgical law enforcement operation"; Maduro has called his capture a kidnapping.
Sources S47 US Attorney's Office, SDNY (court filing), 2 Oct 2026 S37 NPR (Associated Press), 8 Oct 2026 S36 Al Jazeera, 15 Oct 2026
- C2
Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's vice president, was sworn in as acting president on Jan. 5, 2026. The US formally recognized her government on March 7, 2026, according to a prosecution filing.
Details for claim C2
- C29
Reported death tolls from the Jan. 3 operation differ. Cuba's government named 32 Cuban personnel killed. Venezuela's defense minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, said 47 Venezuelan soldiers were killed and gave a total of 83 including 32 Cubans and 4 civilians.
Details for claim C29
No independent final count was found.
Sources S62 CBC News, 6 Jan 2026 S61 Anadolu Agency, 17 Jan 2026 S63 Guacamaya, 16 Jan 2026
The criminal case 0 of 7 claims
- C3
A superseding indictment (S5 11 Cr. 205), unsealed Oct. 8, 2026, charges Maduro and Flores with narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to commit torture, cocaine importation conspiracy, a machine gun and destructive device count, and conspiracy on machine guns and destructive devices.
Details for claim C3
These are accusations. The Justice Department release says the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sources S21 US District Court, SDNY, 8 Oct 2026 S20 US Attorney's Office, SDNY, 8 Oct 2026 S46 US District Court, SDNY (CourtListener RECAP), 13 Nov 2026
- C4
Prosecutors allege a torture conspiracy from at least about 1999 to about 2025 that included the torture of US citizens. These are allegations, not findings of guilt.
Details for claim C4
Accusations only. Maduro and Flores deny the charges.
Sources S21 US District Court, SDNY, 8 Oct 2026 S20 US Attorney's Office, SDNY, 8 Oct 2026
- C5
Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty at their Jan. 5, 2026 arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the S5 indictment on Oct. 15, 2026. The docket records both as remanded in custody; news reports say they are held at a federal jail in Brooklyn.
- C6
Lawyers for Maduro and Flores have moved to dismiss the case on sovereign-immunity grounds. Maduro also moved to dismiss Count Two for lack of venue. Maduro calls his capture a kidnapping and denies the charges.
Details for claim C6
These are the defense's legal arguments, not rulings.
Sources S46 US District Court, SDNY (CourtListener RECAP), 13 Nov 2026 S37 NPR (Associated Press), 8 Oct 2026 S36 Al Jazeera, 15 Oct 2026
- C7
Prosecutors argue that the US has not recognized Maduro as Venezuela's president since January 2019 and that Venezuela has not asserted that Maduro or Flores are immune from prosecution.
Details for claim C7
This is the prosecution's legal argument, not a ruling.
Sources S47 US Attorney's Office, SDNY (court filing), 2 Oct 2026
- C8
On July 22, 2026, Judge Hellerstein set oral argument for Nov. 17, 2026 and trial for June 1, 2027. On Oct. 15 he moved oral argument to Dec. 17, 2026 and trial to June 14, 2027.
Details for claim C8
Dates as on the docket on Nov. 13, 2026; they can change.
Sources S46 US District Court, SDNY (CourtListener RECAP), 13 Nov 2026
- C9
Judge Hellerstein died on Oct. 28, 2026. The case was reassigned to Judge Analisa Torres that day, and on Oct. 29 she ordered that all deadlines and scheduled appearances, including the trial date, remain in effect.
The oil deal 0 of 6 claims
- C10
The White House says Venezuela's interim authorities gave North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) 100-year concessions on 17 oil fields with about 65 billion barrels of proven reserves.
Details for claim C10
Sources S22 The White House, 31 Aug 2026
- C11
Per the White House, NABEP gave the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital a 35% equity stake in its corporate parent and the State Department the right to buy 20% of output at production cost, plus first refusal on the rest.
Details for claim C11
Sources S22 The White House, 31 Aug 2026
- C12
A Pentagon spokesperson told Reuters in August that the Office of Strategic Capital does not take equity stakes in private companies, according to The Guardian. The White House fact sheet describes a 35% equity stake for the office.
Details for claim C12
The two official descriptions conflict; the agreement text has not been published.
Sources S42 The Guardian, 26 Sep 2026 S22 The White House, 31 Aug 2026
- C13
The deal's length is disputed. The White House says 100-year concessions; Delcy Rodriguez said in a televised address the agreement will last 25 years.
Details for claim C13
The agreement text has not been published.
Sources S22 The White House, 31 Aug 2026 S55 Al Jazeera, 30 Aug 2026
- C14
NABEP is owned by Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt, according to The Guardian and Al Jazeera.
Details for claim C14
No public ownership filing was found; ownership is as reported.
Sources S42 The Guardian, 26 Sep 2026 S32 Al Jazeera, 3 Nov 2026
- C27
ExxonMobil said on Nov. 9, 2026 that it signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with state oil company PDVSA to explore upstream opportunities.
Details for claim C27
The company said any future investment would require stable policies, clear regulations and investment protections.
Sources S65 Reuters (via BOE Report), 9 Nov 2026 S66 Bloomberg (via Business Standard), 10 Nov 2026
Where the money went 5 of 5 claims
- C15
Executive Order 14373, signed Jan. 9, 2026, defines specified natural-resource and diluent-related funds in designated Treasury accounts as Venezuelan government property held in US custody. It directs Treasury to follow the Secretary of State’s disbursement instructions.
Details for claim C15
- C16
The State Department’s report for Jan. 3–Sept. 30, 2026 lists $12.26 billion in deposits, $12.11 billion disbursed and a $168.56 million custody balance at Sept. 30. It reports $12.52 million in reinvestment interest.
Details for claim C16
- C17
The State Department report’s flow diagram lists $11.77 billion for foreign-exchange interventions and $133.11 million in vendor payments. The report distinguishes custody-account transfers from downstream recipient activity, which can include other funding sources.
Details for claim C17
- C18
The public report redacts depositor identities in its deposit tables and presents downstream recipients by category and sector rather than publishing a named list of final individual and corporate recipients.
Details for claim C18
- C20
In a letter dated Sept. 16, 2026, Senators Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse requested information about Venezuelan natural-resource revenues. They cited public reporting of at least $13 billion in oil-sale revenue deposits. That is the letter’s attributed figure, not a verified account total.
Details for claim C20
Elections and governance 0 of 4 claims
- C23
On Nov. 2, 2026 the State Department said Rubio reaffirmed a three-phase plan for Venezuela: stabilization, economic recovery and political reconciliation, and democratic transition. No election date had been announced, CBS News reported on Oct. 26 and TIME on Nov. 10.
Details for claim C23
- C24
Rubio said the interim government has met every agreed timeline for replacing the Supreme Court and electoral council. Machado said his sequence makes clear presidential elections will be held in 2027.
Details for claim C24
The agreed timelines have not been published.
Sources S33 CBS News, 26 Oct 2026 S32 Al Jazeera, 3 Nov 2026
- C28
On Sept. 2, 2026, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Venezuela is not ready for elections: "Delcy wants it, but they're not ready yet," adding, "But soon, we look forward to doing it."
Details for claim C28
Quoted as reported by two news agencies; no official transcript was found.
Sources S56 Anadolu Agency, 2 Sep 2026 S57 MercoPress, 2 Sep 2026
- C25
OFAC’s Oct. 14, 2026 notice lists Jorge Jesus Rodriguez Gomez, also known as Jorge Rodriguez, as removed from its sanctions list.
Details for claim C25
Security operations 0 of 1 claim
- C30
A drone strike on Oct. 30, 2026 hit an ELN guerrilla camp in Apure state, near the Colombian border. Reported death tolls range from at least 19 (InSight Crime) to at least 23 (the rights group Fundaredes, per The New York Times); El Pais cited at least 20.
Details for claim C30
Casualty figures are unofficial; no official toll was found.
Sources S58 The New York Times (via San Juan Daily Star), 4 Nov 2026 S59 El Pais (English), 4 Nov 2026 S60 InSight Crime, 5 Nov 2026
No claims match these filters. Clear all
Dated events ahead
- 2026-11-30: Prosecution response due. Deadline for the government's response to the Nov. 9 motions to dismiss; replies due Dec. 14. S46
- 2026-12: Supreme Court appointments (projected). Venezuelan lawmakers involved in the process say new Supreme Tribunal of Justice magistrates will be named in December; applications were extended to Nov. 18. S67S68S69
- 2026-12-17: Oral argument. Oral argument on the defense motions, as on the docket. S46
- 2027-06-14: Trial date. Jury trial set to begin, as on the docket; Judge Torres kept the schedule on Oct. 29. S46S48
Our coverage
- 2026-07-22 Maduro back in Manhattan court; prosecution and defense propose June 2027 trial date S1
- 2026-09-03 Maduro and Wife Ask Judge to Dismiss Drug Trafficking Charges, Claim Head-of-State Immunity S2
- 2026-10-08 Maduro and Wife Indicted on Torture Conspiracy Charge S3
- 2026-10-15 Maduro and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Torture Conspiracy Charges in New York Court S4
- 2026-08-31 Venezuela's Rodriguez Details 25-Year Terms of US Oil Deal as Trump Says Proceeds Will Refill a Near-Empty Reserve S14
- 2026-09-01 White House Details Venezuela Oil Deal S15
- 2026-09-01 US Officials Give Conflicting Accounts of Venezuela Oil Deal as Pentagon Denies Taking Equity Stake S5
- 2026-09-30 Senate Democrats Demand Accounting of $13 Billion in Venezuelan Oil Money Trump Team Refuses to Detail S13
- 2026-10-22 U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Venezuela's Jorge Rodriguez Days After New Torture Charges Against Maduro S10
- 2026-10-25 Maria Corina Machado Returns to Venezuela After More Than 10 Months in Exile S11
- 2026-11-03 Rubio Tells Venezuela's Foreign Minister to Stick to Three-Phase Plan; No Election Date Set Months After Maduro's Capture S8
- 2026-11-10 Exxon Signs Non-Binding Venezuela Memorandum With PDVSA Ten Months After CEO Called Country 'Uninvestable' S12
- 2026-11-12 KPMG Report: U.S.-Run Account Took In $12.26 Billion in Venezuelan Export Revenue and Sent Nearly All of It Back S6
What is not known
- Outcome of the motions. The court has not ruled on the Nov. 9 motions to dismiss. Maduro and Flores are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. S46S20
- The oil agreement text. Neither government has published the contract, so the 100-year versus 25-year term and the equity descriptions cannot be checked against it. S22S55S42
- Who received the auction dollars. The public report presents downstream recipients by category and sector, not a named list. This does not establish misuse of funds. S23
- Election date. No presidential election date has been announced; the agreed timelines Rubio cites are not public. S33S70
- Casualties of Jan. 3. Official and reported death tolls differ; no independent final count was found. S61S62S63
Sources (49)
- S1Unbiased Headlines Maduro back in Manhattan court; prosecution and defense propose June 2027 trial dateunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S2Unbiased Headlines Maduro and Wife Ask Judge to Dismiss Drug Trafficking Charges, Claim Head-of-State Immunityunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S3Unbiased Headlines Maduro and Wife Indicted on Torture Conspiracy Chargeunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S4Unbiased Headlines Maduro and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Torture Conspiracy Charges in New York Courtunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S5Unbiased Headlines US Officials Give Conflicting Accounts of Venezuela Oil Deal as Pentagon Denies Taking Equity Stakeunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S6Unbiased Headlines KPMG Report: U.S.-Run Account Took In $12.26 Billion in Venezuelan Export Revenue and Sent Nearly All of It Backunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S8Unbiased Headlines Rubio Tells Venezuela's Foreign Minister to Stick to Three-Phase Plan; No Election Date Set Months After Maduro's Captureunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S10Unbiased Headlines U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Venezuela's Jorge Rodriguez Days After New Torture Charges Against Madurounbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
Show all 49 sources
- S11Unbiased Headlines Maria Corina Machado Returns to Venezuela After More Than 10 Months in Exileunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S12Unbiased Headlines Exxon Signs Non-Binding Venezuela Memorandum With PDVSA Ten Months After CEO Called Country 'Uninvestable'unbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S13Unbiased Headlines Senate Democrats Demand Accounting of $13 Billion in Venezuelan Oil Money Trump Team Refuses to Detailunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S14Unbiased Headlines Venezuela's Rodriguez Details 25-Year Terms of US Oil Deal as Trump Says Proceeds Will Refill a Near-Empty Reserveunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S15Unbiased Headlines White House Details Venezuela Oil Dealunbiasedheadlines.com (opens in a new tab)UBH coverage; live page checked 2026-11-13. Not used as corroboration.
- S20US Attorney's Office, SDNY Nicolas Maduro Moros and Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro charged with torture (press release)justice.gov (opens in a new tab)Primary document. Read in a real browser on 2026-11-13.
- S21
- S22
- S23US Department of State Report on Venezuela Custody Account Operations (January to September 2026)state.gov (opens in a new tab)Primary report downloaded and read, including rendered tables. Figures are point-in-time; recipient-level totals can include additional funding.
- S24
- S25
- S26US Senate (Wyden, Warren, Whitehouse) Letter to Treasury and State on Venezuelan natural resources revenuesfinance.senate.gov (opens in a new tab)
- S32
- S33
- S35
- S36
- S37NPR (Associated Press) New US indictment charges Maduro with torturenpr.org (opens in a new tab)
- S38
- S42
- S46US District Court, SDNY (CourtListener RECAP) Docket, United States v. Maduro Moros et al., 1:11-cr-00205 (entries for Maduro Moros)courtlistener.com (opens in a new tab)Primary court record (PACER docket as mirrored by RECAP), read 2026-11-13. Latest entry read: Nov. 9, 2026.
- S47US Attorney's Office, SDNY (court filing) Government's memorandum in opposition to defendants' motions to dismiss (ECF No. 338)storage.courtlistener.com (opens in a new tab)Primary document. A legal argument by the prosecution, not a ruling.
- S48US District Court, SDNY Order of Judge Analisa Torres after reassignment (ECF No. 354)storage.courtlistener.com (opens in a new tab)Primary court order.
- S49
- S50
- S51
- S54US Department of State Secretary Rubio's meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Blancostate.gov (opens in a new tab)Primary document (readout).
- S55
- S56
- S57
- S58The New York Times (via San Juan Daily Star) US assisted Venezuela in deadly drone strike, officials saysanjuandailystar.com (opens in a new tab)
- S59
- S60
- S61
- S62
- S63
- S65
- S66Bloomberg (via Business Standard) ExxonMobil signs deal with Venezuela in step toward re-entering the countrybusiness-standard.com (opens in a new tab)
- S67
- S68
- S69
- S70
Updates and corrections
- Independent verification: narrowed claims to directly read documents and independently corroborated reporting; removed unsupported claims and upcoming court dates.
- First version.
- Recovery review: court dates, reassignment and filings checked against the SDNY docket; FEC filings, DOJ release and other sources re-read; restored items that verified, with corrected dates and attributions.
- Final review: removed items that rested on a single outlet or on unnamed sources; remaining items rest on primary records, two independent outlets or attributed statements.
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