Colombian-Venezuelan businessman Alex Saab, regarded for years as the main financial frontman of former president Nicolás Maduro, appeared on Monday before a federal court in Miami, where he was formally charged with one count of money laundering linked to a bribery scheme used to enrich himself through contracts of Venezuela's state food import program.

The extradition of Alex Saab, who is tied to a huge graft scheme, is part of a purge of powerful figures who helped the deposed president, Nicolás Maduro, stay in power.

By Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff May 18 (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors charged Alex Saab, known as the “bag man” for former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with money laundering over his alleged exploitation of a Venezuelan welfare plan,

Venezuela has deported Alex Saab, an ally of Nicolas Maduro, to the U.S. amid ongoing criminal investigations. Saab, previously pardoned under a prisoner swap deal by President Biden, faces accusations of corruption linked to Venezuelan government contracts.