[1] As of 2015, Benavides was head of the Central Integral Defense Strategic Region for the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.

[4][5] The U.S. held the seven individuals, including Benavides, responsible for "excesses committed in the repression of the demonstrations of February 2014 that left at least 43 dead" including "erosion of human rights guarantees, persecution of political opponents, restrictions on press freedom, violence and human rights abuses in response to anti-government protests, arbitrary arrests and arrests of anti-government protesters, and significant public corruption" according to BBC Mundo.

[7][8] The sanctions were for behaviors that undermined democracy after at least 125 people will killed in the 2017 Venezuelan protests and "in response to the government of Venezuela's deepening descent into dictatorship".

[7] The European Union sanctioned seven Venezuela officials, including Benavides, on 18 January 2018, singling them out as being responsible for deteriorating democracy in the country.

[12] On 20 April 2018, the Mexican Senate froze the assets of officials of the Maduro administration, including Benavides, and prohibited them from entering Mexico.