(DDM) – An American man held for more than a month in a Venezuelan prison said he feared he would be executed, revealing harrowing details of abuse, deprivation, and uncertainty during his detention.
James Luckey‑Lange, a 28‑year‑old native of New York, said he spent hours staring at names he carved on a bar of soap, which he smuggled out of the prison in his underwear to remember fellow detainees.
Luckey‑Lange was released on January 13, shortly after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a development that significantly shifted political dynamics in Caracas.
Speaking from New Jersey after his return, he described being beaten by prison officials, deprived of food for several days, and held in prolonged solitary confinement at a counterintelligence facility in Caracas.
“At one point, I thought they were just going to execute me,” he said. “That was the scariest time. Besides that, I was just really frustrated, really aggravated, and angry.”
Luckey‑Lange said detainees were often cut off from communication with the outside world, with little information about broader events in Venezuela.
He noted that other prisoners came from Latin America and the Caribbean, and that the lack of contact with family made the detention psychologically taxing.
His ordeal began in December when he crossed into Venezuela from Brazil while planning to visit a national park.
His detention coincided with rising tensions and reports of foreigners being held by Venezuelan security services, which U.S. officials have linked to political maneuvering.
While detained, Luckey‑Lange said guards accused him of being a spy, citing his hiking boots and hand-drawn maps as evidence.
He denied the allegations, adding that authorities seemed to use his situation for political leverage rather than investigate his actual intentions.
He was later moved to the notorious El Rodeo prison, where he remained for weeks with limited outdoor access. Prisoners improvised games and tools using soap, highlighting the scarcity of basic items.
His release came about two weeks after arriving at El Rodeo, once shifts in Venezuela’s interim government policy allowed for the release of political detainees. U.S. officials facilitated his transfer to Texas for reintegration.
Medical examinations revealed he suffered from a parasite and dental issues due to the harsh conditions. Despite the physical and emotional toll, he said returning home allowed him to reflect on his experience and advocate for fellow prisoners.
Luckey‑Lange now hopes to help locate the families of detainees whose names he carved on soap and raise awareness about conditions in Venezuelan detention centers.
Experts say his account underscores how geopolitical conflicts and shifting authorities can endanger travelers, particularly in countries with volatile detention practices and complex diplomatic situations.
