Venezuelan 1st lady’s 2 nephews get 18 years in prison

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge has sentenced two nephews of Venezuela’s first lady to 18 years in prison for their conviction on drug conspiracy charges.

Judge Paul Crotty announced the sentences Thursday in Manhattan federal court after the men apologized for their crimes.

A jury convicted Efrain Campo and his cousin, Francisco Flores, in November 2016. The nephews of Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores were convicted of conspiring to import more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine into the U.S.

Defense lawyers told Crotty the men were novices to the drug trade and never actually transported any drugs.

A prosecutor said their crime was egregious because the men wanted to raise money in part to keep their family in power.