Federal Judge Overseeing Maduro Case Dies at 92

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at age 92, according to a court spokesperson. He was overseeing the Manhattan prosecution of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. On Oct. 8, sounding frail, he denied Flores' release bid and cited a voice problem: "As long as you can understand and hear me, I'll keep going. If I falter, you'll have to wait for the papers, but I'll get through it." On Oct. 15 he arraigned them on a superseding indictment adding torture charges. Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, captured by U.S. military in Caracas on Jan. 3, remain in federal custody in Brooklyn and have pleaded not guilty. Clinton appointed him in 1998; he served nearly 28 years. He handled Sept. 11 tort litigation, sentenced Bill Hwang to 18 years in 2024, and sentenced Charlie Javice to 8 years in 2025. At an April 9, 2025 Alien Enemies Act hearing he said detainees "need to be protected" and "guaranteed a notice, guaranteed a hearing before they can be removed," In July 2020 he ordered Michael Cohen released from prison. Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain said he served with distinction until death. Defense lawyers Barry Pollack and Mark Donnelly said they were "saddened to learn of Judge Hellerstein's passing and offer our condolences to his family." His cases will be randomly reassigned; trial is set for next summer.