Nicolas Maduro, Cilia Flores arraigned in federal court

NEW YORK (Gray Media) - Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were arraigned in New York City today after their dramatic capture and extradition over the weekend. The former first couple of Venezuela plead not guilty after U.S. forces took them from their home early Saturday morning.

Protestors and supporters gathered outside the federal courthouse where they made their first appearance in front of Judge Alvin Hellerstein. Both Maduro and Flores wore matching black jump suit tops with red shirts underneath, separated only by an attorney as they were read their rights and a summary of the indictment.

Maduro faces four serious charges: narco terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

The 92 year old Hellerstein kept proceedings moving as the two were read their charges through a translator. When asked to confirm his identity, Maduro expanded saying he was kidnapped and considers himself a prisoner of war. Hellerstein interrupted assuring Maduro he will have the opportunity to make his case at a later time.

Maduro and Flores did not immediately request bail, leaving the option to do so open for a later date. They will remain in custody in Brooklyn for pretrial detention.

Both Maduro and Flores requested medical attention. Flores’ attorney said she sustained fractured ribs during her capture.

It is expected to be a lengthy pretrial process and could take more than a year to actually start the trial barring any deal struck that avoids trial. March 17 is the next date on the court calendar to discuss pretrial issues and the defense says there is a lot of complex law to sift through given the nature of the international capture and arrest.