Nephews of Venezuela’s first lady face trial on drug charges
NEW YORK — Jury selection began Wednesday in the drug trial of two nephews of Venezuela’s first lady as a judge agreed to let jurors hear taped recordings of the defendants with U.S. government informants.
The selection of a dozen jurors to decide whether Efrain Campo, 29, and Francisco Flores, 30, conspired to import 800 kilograms of cocaine into the United States likely was to end early Thursday. Opening statements are slated for Monday.
The men, nephews of first lady Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty after they were arrested in Haiti last November and flown to New York.
Before jury selection began, U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty said he would let jurors hear tape recordings of the men talking to U.S. government informants as prosecutors built their case last year.