Jordan Goudreau, a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, faces potential detention as prosecutors urge a judge to keep him behind bars on weapons smuggling charges. The case stems from Goudreau's involvement in a failed 2020 raid aimed at ousting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Prosecutors in Tampa, Florida, argue that Goudreau poses a flight risk, citing his Google searches on evading law enforcement and his travel to Mexico following the raid. They revealed that Goudreau's DNA was found on two rifles seized by Colombian authorities in 2020, strengthening the case against him.
The failed operation, known as "Operation Gideon," took place on May 3, 2020, resulting in eight fatalities and over a dozen arrests in Venezuela. Among those detained were former Green Berets Luke Denman and Airan Berry, who were later part of a prisoner swap in December 2023.
Goudreau, who ran the Florida-based security firm Silvercorp USA, claimed responsibility for the raid but did not participate directly. His lawyer, Hannah McCrea, contends that he has cooperated with U.S. investigators and lived openly in the country since 2020, arguing against the flight risk assessment.
The case highlights the complex political situation in Venezuela, where Nicolas Maduro has been president since 2013 amid a state of political and economic crisis. The U.S. and many other countries do not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president, and the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuela since 2015.
The weapons smuggling charges against Goudreau fall under U.S. arms export control laws, which can carry severe penalties of up to 20 years in prison. The case has drawn attention to the broader geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, with the latter accusing the U.S. government of being behind the failed raid, an allegation the U.S. denies.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the case continues to shed light on the intricate web of international relations, covert operations, and the consequences of unauthorized military actions in foreign territories.
"He has not fled, and he has made no efforts to evade arrest or detection. He is neither a flight risk nor a danger."
The outcome of Goudreau's case may have significant implications for U.S. foreign policy and military veterans involved in private security operations abroad. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing political instability in Venezuela and the international community's varied approaches to addressing the situation.