Miami native released from Venezuelan jail after 5 years of imprisonment

The family of a Florida native detained in Venezuela since 2014 confirmed on Friday that he’d been released and is back in the United States.

Todd Leininger, 37, was arrested in April 2014 in the western Venezuelan city of San Cristóbal after he apparently shot and wounded a neighbor in self-defense.

Arrested on terrorism and weapons charges, the Nicolás Maduro regime had suggested Leininger was a mercenary and a spy aiding opposition groups — allegations his family said were trumped-up fabrications.

Speaking from Miami, Leininger’s mother, Barbara Leininger, said his release had taken her by surprise.

“We’re overwhelmed, ecstatic and exhausted,” she said. “It’s a very emotional time for us and we’re taking it one minute at a time.”

Born in Miami and raised in Indiana, Leininger was detained at a time when Venezuela was being rocked by anti-government protests that left more than 40 dead.

On Friday, a senior Venezuelan official characterized Leininger’s release as a gesture aimed at improving U.S. relations, according to The Associated Press.

But the U.S. State Department said Venezuelan courts had ordered his release in November of last year and that his freedom was long overdue.

At the time of Leininger’s detention, Tachira Gov. José Gregorio Vielma Mora described him as an “international agent” who was trying to overthrow the government. Authorities said they found three rifles, two handguns and eight sets of camouflage uniforms at the home he shared with his now estranged wife.

In July 2016, the courts dropped the terrorism and weapons charges against him but continued pushing the attempted homicide case.

Washington and Venezuela have been at odds for years, but broke all diplomatic ties in January. The United States and more than 50 nations recognize the head of Venezuela’s congress, Juan Guaidó, as the country’s only president — much to the chagrin of leader Nicolás Maduro, who claims he has the right to rule through 2025.

On Monday, the U.S. State Department had said it was “gravely concerned” about the welfare of Leininger and other U.S. detainees in Venezuela.

In particular, it said authorities were barring visits and communications with five U.S. employees of the CITGO oil company who have been in custody for more than a year.

“The United States is gravely concerned about the welfare and safety of all U.S. persons detained in Venezuela, and by reports of Venezuelan prison officials preventing attorneys and families of detained U.S. citizens from delivering food and denying routine communication,” the agency said. “We will hold Maduro and his prison officials to account for their safety and well-being.”

This is the second high-profile release of a U.S. detainee in recent months.

In May 2018, Venezuela released Joshua Holt and his Venezuelan wife, Thamara Caleño, who had been detained for more than two years on weapons charges.

Associated Press content was used to supplement this report.

This story was originally published April 26, 2019 at 5:10 PM.