Jordan Goudreau, a former US Green Beret, has been arrested in New York on federal arms smuggling charges related to his involvement in a failed 2020 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Goudreau, 48, is accused of organizing a cross-border raid involving Venezuelan army deserters with the aim of overthrowing Maduro. He faces charges of conspiracy, smuggling goods from the US, and unlawful possession of a machine gun, among others.
Prosecutors allege that Goudreau, alongside fellow Florida resident Yacsy Alvarez, 43, exported AR-style firearms, night-vision devices, and other military equipment from the US to Colombia without the necessary export licenses. The equipment was intended for use in the coup, which ultimately failed disastrously. Eight people were killed and over 100 arrested when former Venezuelan soldiers attempted to travel by sea from Colombia to capture Maduro. Venezuelan security forces quickly thwarted the incursion, arresting thirteen members of the group, including two US veterans who were later sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Venezuelan court.
Goudreau’s private security firm, Silvercorp, was allegedly used to facilitate the illegal export of arms and equipment. Some items were seized by Colombian National Police. Canada-born Goudreau, who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq and received three Bronze Star medals, has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He previously admitted to organizing the ill-fated May 3, 2020, incursion.
Despite significant setbacks, including inadequate funding and supplies for the coup plotters, Goudreau and his team proceeded with the operation, which has been widely mocked as the “Bay of Piglets.” Venezuelan security forces, having infiltrated the group, easily dismantled the operation. Two of Goudreau’s former Green Beret colleagues spent years in Venezuelan prisons until a prisoner swap last year.
Goudreau and Alvarez could face up to 20 years in prison for the most severe charges. Alvarez’s attorney stated that she is seeking asylum in the US and will plead not guilty. The US Justice Department has declined to comment on the case. Goudreau, who catapulted to fame for his role in the coup attempt, maintains his innocence. His attorney, Gustavo J Garcia-Montes, declined to provide further comments.
This arrest comes at a time when President Maduro is under renewed scrutiny for his increasingly authoritarian actions. Western states, including the US, have refused to recognize the results of Venezuela’s recent presidential election, citing a lack of transparency and fairness. The opposition has presented evidence suggesting their candidate, Edmundo González, won by a significant margin.
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