Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, 69 years old and a co-defendant alongside Nicolás Maduro in the federal case in the Southern District of New York, requested her release on bail or house arrest this Wednesday, citing multiple serious heart conditions that, according to her defense, put her life at risk while she remains in custody awaiting trial.
The request is supported by a sworn statement presented to Judge Alvin Hellerstein by Louis J. Milione, a former special agent of the DEA with 23 years of experience and current president of Global Investigations at Guidepost Solutions, a private security firm based in New York, according to information provided by journalist AP Joshua Goodman.
According to court documents, Flores has experienced chest pain, arrhythmias, and difficulty breathing during his confinement at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, in addition to a loss of more than 11 kilograms in weight.
A stress test conducted on April 23 was suspended due to chest pressure and shortness of breath. External specialists consulted by the defense believe that Flores may have experienced a mild heart attack, although this diagnosis has not been officially confirmed.
As part of the proposed bail agreement, Guidepost Solutions would undertake armed surveillance and ongoing monitoring of Flores at a residence within the Southern District of New York, the exact location of which would remain confidential for security reasons.
Milione detailed in his statement that the company would install video cameras, sensors on doors and windows, and would maintain armed guards 24 hours a day.
"Guidepost will install security measures in the residence and its surroundings, including video cameras and sensors and alarms on doors and windows. At all times, Guidepost security professionals both inside and outside the residence will have access to a live and recorded video feed, which will be provided to the Government," the document states.
The declarant also emphasized that Flores would have no control over the personnel or operations of the company: "No employee of Guidepost will take instructions from the accused."
He added: "In my experience, Guidepost can provide security services for the monitoring of the bail of Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro that reasonably ensure her appearance as required by the Court."
Guidepost Solutions was founded and is led by former federal prosecutors, including several from the Southern District of New York, and employs dozens of former agents from the Secret Service, DEA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and New York Police Department.
Despite the proposal, the Southern District of New York Prosecutor's Office opposes Flores' release on bail.
It is not the first time that his health has raised concern during the process. In March 2026, his lawyer Mark Donnelly alerted Judge Hellerstein about a mitral valve prolapse and obtained permission to perform an electrocardiogram.
In response to that request, the magistrate instructed the legal team to initiate the necessary procedures for Flores to undergo the examination and asked to be informed if any obstacles arose during the process.
Flores and Maduro were captured in Caracas on January 3, 2026, in a military operation ordered by President Donald Trump and transferred to New York, where both pleaded not guilty before Judge Hellerstein two days later.
The charges against Flores include conspiracy to import cocaine and related weapons offenses, with penalties of up to life imprisonment.
The oral trial is scheduled for June 2027, with defense motions expected this September and classified material to be provided by the Government in November 2026.
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