Venezuela judge convicts 6 American oil execs, orders prison

The judge’s ruling Thursday came with sentences of more than eight years for each.

The verdicts dashed the hopes of relatives for a quick release that would send the men home to the United States.

The so-called Citgo 6 had been lured to Venezuela three years ago for a business meeting and arrested.

They are employees of the Houston-based Citgo refining company, which is owned by Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA.