By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A University of Miami professor has pleaded guilty in the United States to laundering funds from Venezuela for Alex Saab. Court records indicate that he requested a lenient sentence due to his advanced age and ill-health.

Bruce Bagley studied Latin America drug trafficking, organized crime, and was arrested on November 2019. He is accused of receiving $2.5 Million in deposits from Swiss and United Arab Emirates bank accounts. The funds were taken from Venezuela.

Manhattan Federal Prosecutors stated in Tuesday’s court filing, that the funds were derived from offshore companies owned by Saab. Saab is a Colombian businessman who was close to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and was arrested last month for money laundering.

Bagley, aged 75, pleaded guilty last June. In a Tuesday filing, his attorneys asked that Bagley be sentenced for time served.

His lawyers wrote that “it is entirely reasonable to predict he will not be a repeat offenders.”

Bagley was recommended to be imprisoned by the prosecution, who claimed that he had not displayed “serious regret”. However, they still recommend a sentence lower than guidance at 46-57months. November 16th is the date for a sentencing hearing.

Saab’s lawyers stated that Saab will not be guilty of the U.S. allegations and argue Saab was an Venezuelan diplomat, which is entitled to immunity.

This is because Saab emerged as a major broker to help Caracas avoid U.S. restrictions on imports. Washington calls Maduro an incorrupt dictator, who violated human rights. He also oversaw the nation’s financial collapse.

Maduro claims that the United States is trying to get rid of him in order to take control over Venezuela’s oil resources.