Washington CNN — The US has reached an agreement to secure the release of six wrongfully detained Americans and four other Americans held in Venezuela, senior US officials announced Wednesday, The deal will also include the extradition of Leonard Francis, the former military contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who orchestrated the largest corruption scandal in US Navy history. The deal marks another sign of significant thawing in relations between the US and Venezuela after months of high-level negotiations between the two countries. The thaw comes as the Biden administration contends with a worsening situation at its southern border, driven largely by Venezuelan migrants, that has pushed federal resources to the brink. The release includes all six Americans who were classified as wrongfully detained, including Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Cristella and Savoi Wright, according to a senior administration official. Eyvin Hernandez is seen in this undated photo. Courtesy Henry Martinez Luke Denman and Airan Berry are also in the group of 10 Americans who were released from Venezuela, a US official told CNN. The two former Green Berets were jailed in Venezuela in May 2020 for their alleged roles in what Maduro called a “failed coup.” They were sentenced to 20 years in prison. The senior administration official said additional individuals are not being named, citing their privacy. “These past few months have been some of the most difficult of our lives, and we are relieved that this ordeal has ended,” a statement from Wright’s family read. “We are grateful to the U.S. government for bringing Savoi home so quickly, to Mickey Bergman from the Richardson Center, to Jonathan Franks, who guided us the entire way, and to the many others who helped to bring Savoi home. We are forever grateful.” A June 2022 photo of Savoi Wright. Courtesy […]
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