# Nicolás Maduro drug charges etc; What if found not guilty? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 5, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371 "2026-01-05T16:50:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/1 "2026-01-05T16:50:34Z")
In theory he (and his wife) could be found not guilty, correct? What would happen then? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/2 "2026-01-05T16:59:11Z")
**Not Guilty:** Maduro would be acquitted of all charges in the indictment and would be released from U.S. federal custody. Don’t hold your breath on an apology or restitution. Not recognized as the head of state by the US, so he would not be restored to power, just not in Federal prison. He would probably be deported, ironically enough. BTW: **Guilty** will probably mean about a 20 year sentence. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/3 "2026-01-05T17:00:54Z")
It would be absolutely hilarious. Not extremely unlikely too, given it seems like he’ll be prosecuted in NYC. My guess is a trip to Guantanamo would be in his future. Which would of course be a massive violation of the constitution. Trump would _probably_ get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/4 "2026-01-05T17:09:51Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > He would probably be deported, ironically enough Given he’d be welcomed as a hero (assuming, as seems likely, there is no actual regime change and this is purely a token military action to make Trump feel like a badass military leader) and it would be incredibly humiliating for Trump personally, I don’t see this happening. I’d put money on some kind of “enemy combatant” move by the administration if this happens. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/5 "2026-01-05T17:16:56Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > My guess is a trip to Guantanamo would be in his future. Nope, most likely go to ADX next to El Chapo. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/6 "2026-01-05T17:21:16Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > most likely go to ADX next to El Chapo. Except he was found guilty. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/7 "2026-01-05T17:55:03Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I’d put money on some kind of “enemy combatant” move by the administration if this happens. Another option if he’s found not guilty would be to deport (or “extraordinarily render”) him to a third country that has agreed to treat him unkindly and not let him return home. I could see that happening too, which would be just as unconstitutional. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/8 "2026-01-05T18:02:40Z")
What happened with Noriega? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/9 "2026-01-05T18:19:43Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > Noriega Also found guilty. Also his trial was delayed until he was no longer classified as a prisoner of war. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/10 "2026-01-05T18:23:40Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > What happened with Noriega? Was convicted, spent a really long time in US prisons, then was extradited to France and again to Panama in 2017. There’s no guarantee Maduro will get convicted by a federal judge. Some of these charges are dumb and will definitely get tossed. If he’s convicted, he’ll follow Noriega’s trajectory. If acquitted, expect something outrageously unconstitutional from the Trump admin. They may just pop him on the street outside the courthouse. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/11 "2026-01-05T18:23:42Z")
Who will declare whether he is innocent or guilty, a jury or a single judge? And if a single judge, who chooses that judge? Any chance it might be **[Aileen Cannon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen_Cannon)**? If he is acquitted, is there any possibility of pushing this up to a higher instance, the Supreme Court even? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/12 "2026-01-05T18:27:59Z")
The trial is in New York, If I’m not mistaken, so no Aileen Cannon (Who’s from Florida). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/13 "2026-01-05T18:28:27Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Any chance it might be **[Aileen Cannon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen_Cannon)**? Extremely unlikely. Cannon is a federal judge in the Southern District of Florida; Maduro is being charged in the the Southern District of New York. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/14 "2026-01-05T18:29:09Z")
Thank you both, that is a little bit reassuring. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/15 "2026-01-05T18:29:18Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Maduro will get convicted by a federal judge A jury not a judge. And a new York City one at that. So definitely not guaranteed. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/16 "2026-01-05T18:30:05Z")
Why is he being judged in New York? how is that kind of thing determined in cases such as this? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/17 "2026-01-05T18:31:35Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Why is he being judged in New York? In Noriega’s case he had been indicted in Florida previously. Had Maduro been indicted in NY before this? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/18 "2026-01-05T18:40:07Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Why is he being judged in New York? The Southern District of New York (SDNY) is frequently where high-profile international and political cases are tried. AIUI, in a case like this, where the crime may not have been limited to a specific city or state, the Justice Department has leeway in picking where to try it. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/19 "2026-01-05T18:41:24Z")
So somebody presented charges there, I assume? but why there? why not in Aileen Cannon’s Florida District? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371/20 "2026-01-05T18:43:56Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > why not in Aileen Cannon’s Florida District? Even if she’s a Trumpist, she’s a junior judge, and of questionable competence. They don’t want fuckups on this. Again, SDNY specializes in this sort of high-profile international case. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicolas-maduro-drug-charges-etc-what-if-found-not-guilty/1026371.md?page=2)