Will Carvajal Barrios Indictment affect or aid return of L.A. Attorney Imprisoned in Venezuela?

The 5.5’ tall Hugo Carvajal-Barrios, was the head of military intelligence from 2004-2011 under President Chavez. He chose to support Juan Guaidó , rather than Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. recognize Guaido as President in 2019. Hugo Carvajal is wanted in Venezula for charges related to treason and financing terrorism.

Hugo Carvajal-Barrios was arrested in 2019 in Spain and then released, in a dispute of the charges. Charges against him in Manhattan, New York District Court, were a part of two separate indictments charging current and former Venezuelan officials and FARC leadership. One Superseding Indictment includes narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges against HUGO ARMANDO CARVAJAL BARRIOS, a/k/a “El Pollo,” and five other individuals. Both cases are pending before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein

He was later re-arrested in 2021 and held until he was extradited July 19th to the United States. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein heard the July 25th status conference & pre-trial conference of (Hugo) Carvajal Barrios of Venezuela, in a New York state court. Carvajal was not released on bail and the next pre-trial conference is set for noon on 11/1/23. This is the same judge scheduled to hear the case by the State of NY, next March 2024, against President Donald Trump. Judge Hellerstein also heard the case against Harvey Weinstein.

The tally of Americans arrested in Venezuela and not released is vaguely detailed as each new arrest or release occurs.

• 2019
  • US Closes embassy in Caracus
• US recognizes Juan Guaido as the President
• March 8, 2022
  • Two Americans Freed
• March 2022
  • Press reports, prior to 3/14/22, a total of eight Americans imprisoned in Venezuela.
• March 14, 2022 arrested for trespassing from Columbia into Venezuela
  • Jerrel Kenemore (52)
• Girlfriend of Jerrel Kenemore
• Three others
• March 31, 2022 arrested for trespassing from Columbia into Venezuela
  • Los Angeles Attorney Eyvin Hernandez (45)
• Unnamed friend

Total number of Americans imprisoned in Venezuela according to press reports: 8 + 7

• October 2022 – President Biden declares Hernandez & Kenemore wrongly detained
• October 2022 – Seven Americans were released from imprisonment in Venezuela in exchange for two relatives of President Maduro charged & convicted of drug trafficking
• December 2022 (prior to Christmas)
  • US State Dept, Roger Carstens; US Consular officials suggest there are only four
    Americans detained in Venezuala, whom they visit.
    • Two Americans arrested for their part of “Operation Gideon” an attempt to overthrow President Madura (Former Green Beret’s Luke Denman & Airan Berry)
  • Two Americans wrongly detained: Eyvin Hernandez & Jerrel Kenemore
  • February 2023
    • Attorney Eyvin Hernandez appeals to President Biden via a video/letter sent to Reuters to swap him & seven other US detainees for Alex Saab, a COLUMBIAN-born businessman facing trial in Miami for a bribery scheme involving $350 million linked to Venezuela’s state-controlled exchange rate.

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