An individual closely associated with the deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has been extradited to the United States, as confirmed by Venezuelan authorities. This individual faces serious federal charges, including orchestrating an extensive money laundering and bribery operation linked to Venezuela’s government-run food distribution and oil sectors.

Alex Nain Saab Moran, a 55-year-old Colombian national who previously served as the minister of industry and national production under Maduro’s administration, made his appearance in a Miami federal court on Monday, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The Department of Justice emphasized that Saab is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The prosecution alleges that starting around 2015, Saab spearheaded a prolonged scheme to embezzle funds from a humanitarian initiative designed to supply food to Venezuela’s impoverished citizens.

It is further claimed that Saab and his accomplices illicitly sold Venezuelan state-owned oil worth billions of dollars, bypassing U.S. sanctions in the process, according to the Justice Department. The authorities allege that the profits were funneled through U.S. bank accounts to obscure the transactions and perpetuate the fraudulent activities.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (L) addresses supporters alongside the Colombian businessman Alex Saab during a rally in Caracas on January 23, 2024. (GABRIELA ORAA/AFP via Getty Images)

“Alex Saab allegedly used American banks to launder hundreds of millions of dollars stolen from a Venezuelan food program meant for the poor and proceeds from the illegal sale of Venezuelan oil,” Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said in a statement. “This is unacceptable. The Criminal Division will not allow foreign actors to exploit the American financial system and use it as a safe haven for the proceeds of their corruption.” 

Beginning around 2015, Saab and his associates allegedly paid bribes to Venezuelan government officials to secure contracts tied to the country’s CLAP welfare program, which was intended to purchase and distribute food to vulnerable and impoverished Venezuelans. 

Instead of delivering the promised food supplies, prosecutors allege the group used shell companies, fraudulent invoices and falsified shipping records to embezzle hundreds of millions of dollars from the program for their own personal gain.

Businessman Alex Saab walks through Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Around 2019, as sweeping U.S. sanctions crippled Venezuela’s oil exports and placed severe strain on the country’s finances, including its ability to pay Saab and his associates under the CLAP program, Saab and his partners allegedly exploited their corrupt ties to government officials to gain access to billions of dollars’ worth of oil owned by Venezuela’s state-run oil company. 

Officials allege the group sold the oil under false pretenses and used the profits to sustain and expand the original food fraud scheme.

Saab and his associates reportedly laundered the allegedly stolen funds through U.S. bank accounts in an effort to conceal the money trail, giving American authorities jurisdiction to prosecute the case.

“When illicit proceeds are moved through the United States financial system, our courts have jurisdiction and our prosecutors will act,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said in a statement.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R) shakes hands with Colombian-born businessman Alex Saab in Caracas on January 15, 2024. (FEDERICO PARRA/AFP)

Saab was previously indicted in the U.S. in 2019 and extradited from Cabo Verde in 2021. He was pardoned by President Biden in 2023 as part of a prisoner swap, though prosecutors say the new case involves alleged conduct not covered by that pardon.

A Miami-based attorney for Saab declined to comment to The Associated Press.

If convicted, Saab faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The government is also seeking forfeiture of any property or proceeds allegedly obtained through the alleged criminal activity.

The case was investigated by a U.S. Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Imagine a job where getting paid to like videos and photos on social media is part of the daily routine. For many, this might seem like an idyllic work-from-home opportunity. However, for some individuals, this seemingly perfect job turned out to be a costly lesson.

Several people have reached out to the ABC7 I-Team with stories of financial loss stemming from a “work-from-home” scheme that required them to “invest” in order to earn more money. Initially, participants were enticed by the prospect of earning cash simply by engaging with social media posts. Yet, the venture soon revealed its pitfalls, leaving many with empty pockets.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Erica Tyler, a resident of Chicago’s Westhaven Park neighborhood, was among those who took the leap. She dedicated herself to CloudBoost Technology Advertising, an Australian company, after hearing about the opportunity through a friend. Enthusiastic about the potential, she not only participated herself but also began making presentations and recruiting others to join the program online.

While some individuals reported initial success and earnings, the facade quickly crumbled. Erica and others now warn of the risks associated with such pay-to-work models, highlighting the importance of thorough research and skepticism when it comes to too-good-to-be-true job offers.

Erica heard about the work-from-home program from a friend. Then, she started making presentations and even recruited others online.

The job? To like social media posts from the comfort of her own home. Her husband, Willie Tyler Jr., and friend, Chris Kimbrough, of Bolingbrook, also signed up.

Erica says she started with a $500 cryptocurrency “work” deposit to join the team.

“I’m upset, number one, because they got us to trust them. OK. And we trusted that they were a growing company,” Erica said.

Erica says she later deposited another $15,000 into the crypto platform over the course of a year. She and others say deposits helped them move up in “tiers” to hopefully make more money by “liking” more posts.

But last August, consumers say, the company shut down, and they were unable to cash out. Erica estimates her losses at nearly $37,000. Willie says he lost $3,000 in crypto deposits.

“Put me in a hole,” Willie said. “Because not just on my account, you know, I trusted them, but I also brought people in, family members, some close friends, you know, that they lost money also.”

Kimbrough also says she lost thousands.

“I’m very upset about that,” Kimbrough said. “And, you know, I had one of my friends to put up money for me, and then, family members helped put up money for me.”

Gwendoline Ashford of Georgia was a top recruiter.

“I had a team of over 120 people,” Ashford said.

She says some of those people think she has their money, but she, too, lost money, $27,000, after the company collapsed, she says.

“They had offices in Atlanta, Alabama. They had huge parties, and they would give people money to open up these offices and take videos,” Ashford said.

Ashford started an online petition bringing other former workers together. Many, like the people in ABC7’s story, reported claims to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center and the U.S. Secret Service.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Peter Vogl at the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office told the I-Team about the warning signs.

“Because if you have to pay to participate, if they’re requiring you to get more people involved, too, in order to progress and make more money, then, one might take a little step back and think about what you’re doing,” Vogl said.

If a company is asking workers to pay more to reach the next level, Vogl said, “That’s definitely, in my mind, a red flag, because if you’re an employee of a company, why should you have to pay in order to progress? You should be able to, through your work, gain progress within the company.”

The I-Team called CloudBoost Technology Advertising. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission lists the company as registered business in Sydney, Australia, but the number ABC7 called was disconnected.

ABC7 also called several contact numbers for managers. Most were disconnected. I-Team Consumer Investigator Jason Knowles left voicemails with other contact numbers but never heard back.

When asked if he thought it was too good to be true, Kimbrough said, “Absolutely, and I feel embarrassed.”

“You shouldn’t pay money to work,” Erica said.

The Better Business Bureau told the I-Team that it warns consumers about task-based income offers like this one.

The BBB says research indicates this company carried out tactics commonly associated with work-from-home scams.

Over the weekend, Texas police unveiled the mugshot of a 17-year-old named Cristian Fajardo Mondragon, who is one of three juveniles linked to a series of 12 shooting events in Austin. These incidents resulted in four individuals being injured, and authorities have now provided a detailed timeline of the 28-hour violent spree.

Mondragon was apprehended on Sunday, accused of involvement in a widespread shooting rampage that not only injured four people but also hit two fire stations and led to a shelter-in-place alert in South Austin, according to a statement from the Austin Police Department.

Alongside Mondragon, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were also detained. Due to state laws that restrict the release of information concerning juvenile suspects, their identities remain undisclosed.

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11:30 a.m.

The police became aware of a stolen firearm reported by a local business, and surveillance footage later identified that the suspects’ vehicle had recently been stolen as well, as per official reports.

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 3:58 p.m.

Within less than five hours from the initial report, authorities confirmed the first of the alleged shootings at a trailer home. Fortunately, no one was injured in this particular incident.

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 4:30 p.m.

Officers responded to another shooting at the Whisper Hollow apartment complex, in which multiple vehicles and an occupied apartment were struck by gunfire. Witness descriptions and surveillance footage of the suspects led authorities to believe the two shootings were connected.

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6:08 p.m.

Approximately two hours later, a third shooting was reported after witnesses observed a suspect wearing a black hoodie exiting a black sedan at another apartment complex and firing through the door of a third-floor unit, police said. 

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7 p.m.

Authorities said that a group of suspects matching previous surveillance footage of the alleged shootings stole a Hyundai Elantra from a Motel 6 parking lot, with another shooting being reported just 90 minutes later. 

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:49 p.m.

Authorities said a suspect fired a gun into an Austin Fire Department station while firefighters were inside. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:55 p.m.

Just six minutes later, authorities received a report that suspects matching the same description had fired shots from their vehicle and struck the windshield of an occupied car. One victim inside the vehicle was injured by broken glass, according to police. 

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:50 a.m.

Police said the suspects allegedly stole another vehicle, with authorities discovering a previous vehicle containing bullet damage abandoned near 1800 E. Stassney Lane hours later.

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 8:46 a.m.

Authorities received a report regarding a victim who had been shot in the back and stomach near 7409 Janes Ranch Road by a suspect matching previous witness descriptions surrounding the alleged shootings.

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 9 a.m.

Shortly after, officers recovered several other stolen vehicles believed to be connected to the alleged shooting spree.

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:46 a.m

A second incident involving shots being fired into another Austin Fire Department station was reported to authorities, with the suspects allegedly stealing yet another vehicle — a white Kia Optima — three hours later. 

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:44 p.m. 

Authorities said two victims were shot in a drive-by shooting involving a white Kia Optima, with two additional shootings being reported within 20 minutes.

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 2:29 p.m.

Authorities said surveillance footage showed a white Kia sedan approaching a victim before the individual fell to the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was subsequently transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:23 p.m.

About one hour later, officers with the Manor Police Department spotted the Kia sedan believed to be connected to the alleged shootings, prompting a pursuit in which the three suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

One suspect was immediately detained, with authorities taking the other two individuals into custody separately after a brief search.

The incidents led to the injuries of four people and five vehicles being stolen, police said.

“At this time, investigators believe the incidents were a mix of random and targeted shootings,” APD said in a statement. “Some victims were known to the suspects, while other incidents appeared to occur without any known connection.”

Davis went on to describe the investigation as “complex” because of the sheer number of crime scenes, stolen vehicles and random shootings throughout the city.

Formal charges against the three suspects remain under review, but are expected to include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault/motor vehicle, deadly conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest, theft of a firearm and other related offenses, APD said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Austin Police Department for comment. 

The heartbroken parents of a young university graduate have filed a wrongful death lawsuit following the tragic shooting of their daughter, which occurred under devastating circumstances. The incident unfolded when Whitney Robeson was accidentally shot by her boyfriend’s father, leading to an outpouring of grief and a quest for justice by her family.

According to both a coroner’s report and the lawsuit, Whitney was struck by a .22 caliber bullet from an antique revolver. The firearm was in the hands of Jeffrey Scott Towers when the incident occurred. It was during a visit to Towers’ home in Trussville, Alabama, on March 7, that the unfortunate event took place. Whitney’s boyfriend, Brandon, 22, was also present as his father showcased his collection of guns.

The local coroner’s office initially deemed the shooting an accident. However, the case took a turn on May 11 when Towers, 54, was arrested and charged with manslaughter. He was later released after posting a $30,000 bail, stirring further emotions in the wake of the tragedy.

In response to their daughter’s untimely death, Whitney’s parents, Carin and Matthew Robeson, have initiated a wrongful death lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court. They claim that Towers acted recklessly while handling the firearm, leading to their daughter’s tragic demise.

Now 22-year-old Whitney’s parents, Carin and Matthew Robeson, have begun a wrongful death lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court alleging Towers was careless while he was showing off the firearm.

Auburn University grad Whitney died after she was hit by a .22 bullet from the Colt Navy single-action revolver, which tore into her chest – causing a fatal ‘injury to (her) left lung, heart, and aorta’, according to the county coroner’s autopsy report.

Her parents, from the Richmond area of Virginia, filed the legal action in Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday and are demanding a jury trial.

Their lawsuit says Towers was showing Whitney and Brandon ‘a collection of antique firearms in the upstairs area or attic’ at 9.30pm on March 7 at his home.

Whitney Harlow Robeson, 22, died from a single gunshot wound on March 7 at her boyfriend’s home in Trussville, Alabama

Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54, was abruptly charged with manslaughter last Monday after being arrested without incident and is now being sued by Robeson’s parents

It accuses him of failing to check if the gun was loaded when handling it near others and lacking basic firearm safety knowledge.

Towers was holding the loaded .22 caliber revolver when ‘a single shot was inadvertently discharged’ which hit Whitney ‘in the upper left side of her chest’, says the legal action.

Emergency responders battled to save her life and transported her to St Vincent’s East Hospital, but she died at 10.49pm.

Towers ‘had a duty to safely inspect and maintain any and all firearms… so as not to cause harm or death’ but ‘breached this duty by negligently failing to inspect the firearm to ensure it was not loaded prior to handling,’ the parents’ lawsuit alleges.

He showed ‘reckless indifference to the consequences and a conscious disregard for the safety of others’ it adds. He also allegedly ‘engaged in the unsafe handling of a firearm without verifying whether the weapon was loaded’.

Robeson had just embarked on her dream career as an interior design consultant with Restoration Hardware in Birmingham after graduating summa cum laude in Auburn’s College of Human Science department.

Towers’ lawyers, John Amari and Dain Stewart at Amari Law Firm have denied he was criminally responsible for Robeson’s death.

‘What happened to Ms Robeson was a tragic event,’ they said in a statement.

Robeson was visiting her boyfriend Brandon Towers (above) when she was shot

Robeson, center, had recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University

She was planning a career in interior design. Her death was initially ruled an accident

‘While we understand that the justice system must play out, we know that the facts will show that Mr Towers has no criminal history, has been a productive and upstanding citizen for his entire life, and is not guilty of these charges.’

Robeson family lawyer Andrew Moak was quoted by TMZ saying the county DA’s office ‘determined that Mr Towers acted with criminal recklessness.’

‘Given that determination, efforts to portray Mr Towers as ‘innocent’ are not supported by the evidence in the case’.

Moak added: ‘This matter involves the tragic and unnecessary death of a 22-year-old woman whose life was cut short far too soon.

‘We remain committed to allowing the evidence, facts and legal process to speak for themselves.’

Robeson’s family paid tribute to her in a moving obituary.

‘Whitney lived with inimitable grace; keen, quiet attentiveness and loyalty; boundless generosity and an uncanny way of always knowing just what she needed to do,’ they wrote.

Whitney Robeson’s devastated parents, Carin and Matthew Robeson of Virginia, described their daughter as a gifted and compassionate young woman whose dream career in interior design had only just begun before her life was cut tragically short 

Police found Robeson shot on this residential street in Trussville, Alabama. The exact address was not released, and the house pictured is just one of many on the block

‘This marvelous, independent woman was on the cusp of her successful career in interior design: the job she had always wanted since she was a little girl watching HGTV.

‘In the precious little time she had been in that role, Whitney’s new colleagues and supervisor were instantly taken by her kindness, talent, attentiveness, and integrity.’

Robeson’s former sorority also posted a glowing tribute to her.

‘We are incredibly grateful to have shared in her friendship, and our chapter will forever cherish the memories we made together,’ the tribute said.

A new initiative, Wrapped in Whitney’s Love, has been set up to honor her memory.

It will give new mothers and their babies swaddles and other essential supplies to help them get off to a good start in life.