U.S. Veteran Faces Charges Over Failed 2020 Raid to Oust Maduro

Jordan Goudreau, a U.S. military veteran, faces weapons smuggling charges linked to a failed 2020 Venezuelan raid aimed at ousting President Nicolas Maduro. Prosecutors argue he is a flight risk due to his online searches on evading law enforcement. Goudreau’s lawyer disputes the claims, insisting he has cooperated with authorities.

Jordan Goudreau, a U.S. military veteran who took credit for a failed 2020 raid aimed at ousting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is facing charges of weapons smuggling, as per federal prosecutors. The allegations stem from his purported online searches on becoming a 'successful fugitive.'

Goudreau was apprehended in New York last week for allegedly violating U.S. arms export laws by sending weapons to Colombia for the May 3, 2020, maritime raid targeting Maduro. Prosecutors in Tampa, Florida, urged U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington to detain Goudreau until trial, labeling him a flight risk.

Following the raid, prosecutors revealed that Goudreau conducted several Google searches, including 'how to run and stay hidden from the feds' and 'how do you prove gun smuggling.' They believe he traveled to Mexico covertly, bypassing official channels. Despite these claims, Goudreau's lawyer insists he has been cooperating with U.S. authorities and poses no flight risk.