NEW YORK – As the world watches the legal fallout of the U.S. military raid on Caracas, the fate of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro now rests in the hands of Judge Alvin Hellerstein. At 92, the Orthodox Jewish jurist is one of the longest-serving and most respected members of the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1998, Hellerstein is a Bronx native and Columbia Law alumnus known for his meticulous, independent rulings. President Trump praised the assignment on Sunday, calling Hellerstein “very respected,” despite the judge’s history of ruling against the government in sensitive immigration and international cases.
A Career of High-Stakes Rulings
Judge Hellerstein is no stranger to global headlines or complex litigation. His resume includes some of the most significant cases in recent American history:
- 9/11 Litigation: He presided over the massive, decade-long master litigation involving the September 11 terrorist attacks, handling thousands of property damage and personal injury claims.
- Trump Administration Pushback: In early 2025, Hellerstein blocked efforts by the Trump administration to deport Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act, ruling the application of the law was unlawful.
- The “Pollo” Carvajal Connection: Hellerstein is currently overseeing the case of Hugo “Pollo” Carvajal, Venezuela’s former intelligence chief. Carvajal’s recent guilty plea and agreement to cooperate are expected to provide the “smoking gun” evidence against Maduro.
Arraignment Details: Monday, Jan 5, 2026
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transported from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn to the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Manhattan early Monday morning.
| Event | Timing / Location |
| Transport | 7:15 AM – Motorcade from MDC Brooklyn to Wall Street Heliport. |
| Arrival | 7:40 AM – Armored vehicle entered SDNY courthouse garage. |
| Hearing Time | 12:00 PM EST |
| Presiding Judge | Alvin Hellerstein |
The Indictment: Facing Life in Prison
The unsealed 25-page indictment, unsealed Saturday by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, charges Maduro and his inner circle with turning Venezuela into a “narco-state.”
Primary Charges:
- Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy: Allegedly partnering with FARC and the Sinaloa Cartel.
- Cocaine Importation: Conspiring to flood the U.S. with tons of cocaine over 25 years.
- Weapons Offenses: Use and possession of machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Defense Strategy: Sovereign Immunity?
Legal experts anticipate Maduro’s defense team will argue that the U.S. lacks jurisdiction to try a foreign head of state. However, the prosecution is expected to counter that because the U.S. does not recognize Maduro’s 2024 election as legitimate, he does not enjoy sovereign immunity—a legal path similar to that used against Panama’s Manuel Noriega in 1990.