Ex-US Green Beret held over raid to oust Venezuela leader
Jordan Goudreau, 48, allegedly sent weapons, ammunition and other gear without a US export licence.
A former member of the US Green Berets, 48-year-old Jordan Goudreau, has been arrested and charged with conspiracy and smuggling goods from the US in connection with a failed 2020 raid aimed at removing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The charges stem from sending weapons, ammunition, and other equipment to Colombia without a valid US export license. Goudreau was charged alongside Florida resident Yacsy Alvarez, 43.
The US justice department revealed that two other ex-Green Berets were sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Venezuelan court for their involvement in the beach attack. Prosecutors allege that Goudreau and Alvarez used Goudreau's private security firm, Silvercorp, to export AR-style firearms, night-vision devices, and other gear from the US to Colombia in an attempt to stage a coup in Venezuela. Some of the items were intercepted by the Colombian National Police.
Goudreau, a Canada-born veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq and recipient of three Bronze Star medals, is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. If convicted of the most severe charge, violation of export control laws, Goudreau and Alvarez could face up to 20 years in prison.
The 2020 coup attempt in Venezuela resulted in eight deaths and over 100 arrests. The plot, which involved former Venezuelan troops attempting to travel by sea from Colombia to capture Maduro, was easily thwarted by Venezuelan security forces. Thirteen group members, including two US veterans, were arrested during the failed incursion.
The US justice department revealed that two other ex-Green Berets were sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Venezuelan court for their involvement in the beach attack. Prosecutors allege that Goudreau and Alvarez used Goudreau's private security firm, Silvercorp, to export AR-style firearms, night-vision devices, and other gear from the US to Colombia in an attempt to stage a coup in Venezuela. Some of the items were intercepted by the Colombian National Police.
Goudreau, a Canada-born veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq and recipient of three Bronze Star medals, is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. If convicted of the most severe charge, violation of export control laws, Goudreau and Alvarez could face up to 20 years in prison.
The 2020 coup attempt in Venezuela resulted in eight deaths and over 100 arrests. The plot, which involved former Venezuelan troops attempting to travel by sea from Colombia to capture Maduro, was easily thwarted by Venezuelan security forces. Thirteen group members, including two US veterans, were arrested during the failed incursion.