Ex-Green Beret from the USA Apprehended in Aftermath of Bungled Venezuela Coup Attempt
Headline: Ex-Green Beret Jordan Goudreau Lands in Hot Water Over Failed Venezuelan Coup Attempt
August 1, 2024 - Our Website
In a turn of events, former U.S. military veteran Jordan Goudreau finds himself in federal custody, accused of his role in an abortive attempt to topple the Venezuelan government. The veteran, notorious for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, is ensnared with Venezuelan associate Yacsy Álvarez in federal arms smuggling charges.
Goudreau's alleged wrongdoings involve the shipment of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Colombia, as well as smuggling goods and the illegal possession of firearms, resulting in a total of 14 counts against him. He is currently detained in a federal center in Brooklyn, facing potential 5- to 20-year sentences for each count in the indictment.
Venezuelan authorities have requested the extradition of both Goudreau and Álvarez, whereas Álvarez is seeking asylum in the U.S., and her attorney announced her intent to plead "not guilty" to the charges. She was initially detained in Colombia and later released.
The incident relates to "Operation Gideon," a paramilitary action aimed at dismantling the Nicolás Maduro government in Venezuela. The Venezuelan armed forces successfully quelled an attempted incursion with speedboats departing from Colombia in May 2020, with six invading operatives killed and dozens arrested.
A 60-strong group trained for months in Colombian camps before setting sail in early May, consisting of Venezuelan army deserters, two other Green Berets, and other participants. Notable figures, Airan Berry and Luke Denman, received 20-year sentences and were part of a prisoner exchange between Caracas and Washington. Others received 21- and 30-year jail terms.
Goudreau's private security contractor, Silvercorp, was hired by former self-proclaimed "Interim President" Juan Guaidó to conduct the operation and oust Venezuela's elected president. Guaidó later distanced himself from Operation Gideon, but evidence of his talks with Silvercorp, as well as a signed contract, emerged publicly.
The contract revealed that the U.S.-backed parallel administration hired the security contractor to "plan and execute an operation to capture/detain/remove Nicolas Maduro." However, Guaidó's team reportedly only made an initial payment of the agreed $1.5 million, prompting Goudreau to sue Guaidó associate Juan José "JJ" Rendón for breach of contract.
Operation Gideon sheds light on various facets after its defeat by Venezuelan security forces. Goudreau claimed that Trump administration officials encouraged the operation, and a 2021 Vice News investigation revealed that the CIA may have had knowledge of the mercenary plot.
The paramilitary operation began to unravel in March 2020 with the arrest of former Venezuelan General Cliver Alcalá in Colombia alongside authorities busting weapons shipments before they reached the training camps. Alcalá was Goudreau's main partner in organizing Operation Gideon.
Alcalá faced separate Justice Department "narco-terrorism" charges, but his attorney's attempts to leverage his ties to U.S. intelligence agencies failed to secure his release. The prosecutors were unable to prove any drug charges, and Alcalá ultimately received a 21-year sentence for providing weapons to the FARC rebel group.
Operation Gideon dramatically impacted Guaidó's credibility, exposing strategic failures and eroding his political support. Goudreau remains a contentious figure, though there's no evidence of recent activity linked to him or Silvercorp in Venezuela as of 2025. The event served as a cautionary example of failed regime-change efforts in Venezuela.
Recent opposition strategies (as of 2025) focus on electoral challenges and international pressure rather than paramilitary actions, with figures like María Corina Machado seeking alliances abroad. Operation Gideon remains a salient reminder of the complexities and potential pitfalls of orchestrating regime change in Venezuela.
- Jordan Goudreau, the former Green Beret at the center of the failed Venezuelan coup attempt, has been indicted for 14 counts related to firearms and arms smuggling in the United States.
- In addition to Goudreau, Venezuelan associate Yacsy Álvarez is also under investigation for her role in the affair, as she has sought asylum in the U.S. and faces charges of arms smuggling and illegal possession of firearms.
- Venezuelan authorities have requested the extradition of both Goudreau and Álvarez, while political news and general-justice circles continue to discuss the implications of this ex-Green Beret's involvement in the Venezuelan coup attempt.
- The failed coup, Operation Gideon, played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Venezuela, leading to significant losses for self-proclaimed "Interim President" Juan Guaidó and exposing potential High-level connections between the Trump administration and the failed regime change attempt.
