BY MARGARET BRENNAN, ANDRES TRIAY, OLIVIA GAZIS, PAT MILTON, ROBERT LEGARE, RICHARD ESCOBEDO, ED O’KEEFE, ARDEN FARHI, GABRIELLE AKE
Washington — Ten Americans and a fugitive wanted by U.S. authorities have been released from Venezuelan custody in exchange for the U.S. release of a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, senior administration officials confirmed. nt, along with two other unidentified U.S. citizens who were also freed.
As part of the deal, Venezuela returned escaped convict Leonard Francis to U.S. custody. Francis, nicknamed “Fat Leonard,” fled to Venezuela in 2022 while he was under house arrest in San Diego after pleading guilty to bribing high-ranking Navy officers.
The prisoner swap took place Wednesday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a southern Caribbean island nation.
A senior administration official confirmed Americans Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Cristella and Savoi Wright are on their way back to the U.S. on a flight to Kelly Field, which is part of Joint Base San Antonio.
These four Americans were deemed “wrongfully detained” by the State Department, along with two other unidentified U.S. citizens who were also freed.
