From a federal prison in New York, Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal transitioned from guarding the darkest secrets of chavismo to challenging the U.S. judicial system itself. Accused of narco-terrorism and facing a life sentence, the former Venezuelan intelligence chief broke through the Department of Justice’s barriers and reached out to Donald Trump with a calculated proposal: strategic cooperation in exchange for survival.
Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios, known as “El Pollo,” went from safeguarding the most sensitive secrets of the Venezuelan state to battling for his future in a federal cell in Brooklyn. A former military intelligence chief and key operator within the chavista machine, he is now a confessed narco-terrorist facing the grim threat of life imprisonment. Cornered by a devastating accusation, Carvajal executed a calculated maneuver to break out of isolation: he navigated past the Department of Justice’s filters and approached Donald Trump with an offer that Washington couldn’t ignore.
From the Vertex of Power to Controlled Fall
For years, Carvajal was a central figure in the General Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence. From that position—according to prosecutors—he coordinated protection, logistics, and criminal alliances that transformed Venezuela into a platform for the Cartel de los Soles, in cooperation with foreign armed actors. His public break with the regime in 2017 and subsequent flight to Europe did not save him; after a prolonged legal battle, he was extradited to the United States in 2023 and placed under scrutiny by the Southern District of New York.
In June 2025, the shift was complete. Before Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, Carvajal pleaded guilty to narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and war crimes. The confession avoided a trial but did not eliminate the maximum risk: a minimum of 20 years to life imprisonment. The only escape was to become indispensable.
The DOJ Wall and the Lateral Play
The Department of Justice doesn’t hand out indulgences easily. Cooperation is measured by verifiable results, not just promises. For a former chavista spy, skepticism is multiplied. Carvajal quickly realized that, even while collaborating, he could remain trapped between classified reports, procedural timelines, and a prosecution that decides when—and if—benefits are activated.
He then chose the political shortcut: stepping away from the technical lane and entering the strategic board. If the case is a matter of national security, the message needed to reach the political level that decides priorities.
The Letter to Trump: Pressure, Narrative, and Offer
On December 2, 2025, from prison, Carvajal sent a ten-page letter to Donald Trump and the American public. The text was not a plea; it was a structured accusation. It depicts the Venezuelan regime as a narco-terrorist organization, details ties with transnational criminal networks, warns about the export of violence and espionage, and explicitly aligns with the narrative of “national defense.”
The implicit offer was clear: actionable information in exchange for protection. With this letter, Carvajal sought two simultaneous effects: raising the political cost of ignoring him and redefining his value beyond the judicial file, as a useful tool for state decisions.
Becoming an “Asset”
In legal terms, the reward for cooperation goes through mechanisms like Rule 35 and, in extreme cases, the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). But none of this happens if the information doesn’t make an impact. Hence Carvajal’s emphasis on names, routes, methods, and institutional protection. It’s not about telling stories, but about unlocking investigations.
Sources close to the process indicate that his testimony may have already strengthened lines against powerful Venezuelan actors. The sentencing—initially scheduled for October 2025—still lacks a public announcement, a sign that the prosecution is still calibrating the output of what was delivered.
Calculated Risks
The move is not without cost. By exposing himself publicly, Carvajal raises the risk of reprisals and reduces the margin of error: if the information doesn’t check out, his credibility evaporates. If it does, his life changes forever. WITSEC involves disappearing: a new identity, isolation, and breaking ties with family and the past. For a former intelligence chief, it’s the price of staying alive.
The Coverage that Anticipated the Move
At Sin Filtros Geopolítica and VenezuelaPolitica.info, we’ve documented the capture in Europe, the extradition, and the potential value of “El Pollo” as a key witness. Our analysis has been consistent: if Carvajal provides precise information, the political damage transcends the individual case and affects the power structure in Caracas.
What’s at Stake
The outcome hinges on a single variable: real utility. If cooperation leads to indictments, seizures, or strategic decisions, the sentence can be significantly reduced. If not, the system will close ranks. In both scenarios, the narrative has already shifted: from “infiltrated state” to state operator.
Carvajal knows this. That’s why he broke the seal, jumped protocols, and bet on Trump. In New York, his final card is called credibility.