NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn jail holding Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is a facility so troubled that some judges have refused to send people there. Opened in the early 1990s, the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) currently has around 1,300 inmates, including infamous figures like R. Kelly and Sean Combs. A crowd of Venezuelan expatriates gathered outside the jail Saturday night to celebrate Maduro's capture, signaling both local and international significance.
While Maduro navigates his new surroundings, he joins the ranks of former leaders like Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras, who faced serious charges before being pardoned by Donald Trump in December 2021.
The current inmate roster includes high-profile detainees such as Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia, co-founder of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel, and Luigi Mangione, accused of killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Previous inmates have included cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried and Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein.
The MDC has faced criticism for rampant violence and horrific living conditions, being described as a “hell on earth.” Recent reports indicate improvements have been made, including staffing increases and updates to the facility's maintenance and food service. Yet, issues such as violent incidents and contraband smuggling still persist.
As Maduro adjusts to his uncertain future, his time in MDC Brooklyn will include interactions with other notable detainees, which further complicates the narrative of this notorious institution.
While Maduro navigates his new surroundings, he joins the ranks of former leaders like Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras, who faced serious charges before being pardoned by Donald Trump in December 2021.
The current inmate roster includes high-profile detainees such as Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia, co-founder of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel, and Luigi Mangione, accused of killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Previous inmates have included cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried and Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein.
The MDC has faced criticism for rampant violence and horrific living conditions, being described as a “hell on earth.” Recent reports indicate improvements have been made, including staffing increases and updates to the facility's maintenance and food service. Yet, issues such as violent incidents and contraband smuggling still persist.
As Maduro adjusts to his uncertain future, his time in MDC Brooklyn will include interactions with other notable detainees, which further complicates the narrative of this notorious institution.
