A former US Army Green Beret has been sentenced to prison for his role in organising a failed mercenary operation aimed at overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Jordan Goudreau, a decorated special forces veteran, received his sentence after admitting to multiple charges related to the ill-fated 2020 plot that ended in humiliation when Venezuelan forces captured two former US soldiers on a beach near Caracas.
The 'Operation Gideon' Debacle
The bizarre scheme, dubbed 'Operation Gideon', saw Goudreau recruit a ragtag group of Venezuelan exiles and former soldiers for a sea-based invasion. The plan unravelled spectacularly when Venezuelan authorities intercepted the group, capturing several participants and killing others.
Goudreau had publicly claimed responsibility for the operation while it was still underway, even appearing in social media videos alongside a former Venezuelan army sergeant.
From War Hero to Mercenary
Goudreau's fall from grace marks a dramatic turn for a soldier who had been decorated for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the military, he founded Silvercorp USA, a private security firm that would become the vehicle for his Venezuelan ambitions.
The prosecution highlighted how Goudreau "recklessly endangered lives and undermined international diplomacy" with his unsanctioned operation.
International Repercussions
The failed plot strained already tense relations between the United States and Venezuela, with Maduro's government accusing Washington of direct involvement - claims US officials repeatedly denied.
Two former US special forces soldiers who participated in the operation, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, remain detained in Venezuela, their fate uncertain despite diplomatic efforts to secure their release.
The sentencing serves as a stark warning about the dangers of private military ventures operating without government authorisation in volatile international situations.
