Manhattan Judge Who Handled Maduro Case Dies at 92

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who presided over the federal criminal case against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, died Wednesday at age 92. Edward Friedland, a spokesperson for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, confirmed the death.

Hellerstein had been assigned to the prosecution of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, after U.S. forces captured them in Venezuela earlier this year. Maduro faces federal charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and drug trafficking offenses. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. Court officials said the case will move to a new judge through the district's standard random selection process. No replacement had been publicly announced as of Wednesday.

The judge held a hearing in the prosecution two weeks before his death. Hellerstein served on the Southern District bench for nearly 30 years after President Bill Clinton appointed him in 1998. His docket included litigation arising from the September 11, 2001 attacks, financial fraud prosecutions, and legal disputes involving President Donald Trump. He continued to handle complex federal matters into his 90s.

Charges against Maduro and Flores remain in place after his death. Any new judge assigned to the case will take over scheduling hearings and ruling on pending motions.

The Southern District of New York sits in Manhattan and handles federal cases from several counties in the New York area, including prosecutions that reach the court through its criminal division.