Jordan Goudreau

Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau (born 30 July 1976) is a Canadian-American mercenary[2] who claimed responsibility for organizing the Macuto Bay incursion into Venezuelan territory on 3 May 2020.[3] He is the owner and operator of a private security firm based in Florida called Silvercorp USA, which he set up in 2018.[4] Goudreau previously served in the Canadian Armed Forces and the U.S. Army Special Forces.[1]

Jordan Goudreau
Born (1976-07-30) 30 July 1976[1]
Canada
CitizenshipCanada
United States (naturalized)
EducationUniversity of Calgary
Occupations
  • Former soldier
  • private security contractor
Military career
Allegiance United States Army
Service years2001–2016
RankSergeant first class
Unit10th Special Forces Group
ConflictWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War

Early life

Goudreau was raised in a middle-class family on the outskirts of Calgary, Alberta.[5] Childhood friends said he was competitive, enjoyed playing video games and watched kung fu films.[5] Goudreau's father said he had "a family full of military people," including Goudreau's grandfather and great-grandfather.[5] He later attended the University of Calgary from 1994 to 1998, studying computer science.[1]

Military career

After finishing college, Goudreau served in the Canadian Armed Forces but wanted to enlist in the United States armed forces to pursue a more challenging military career.[5] He moved to Washington, D.C. and enlisted in the United States Army a few months prior to the September 11 attacks in New York City, eventually reaching the rank of Sergeant first class in the 10th Special Forces Group.[1]

Documentation shows that Goudreau faced months of combat while deployed and suffered a concussion and back injuries during a parachuting accident in August 2014.[5][6] After this incident, he was granted medical retirement in 2016, receiving disability payments after discharging from the military.[5] Following his retirement, Goudreau became a naturalized United States citizen.[1]

Silvercorp USA
Silvercorp USA
TypePrivate military company
FoundedFebruary 2018 (February 2018)
FounderJordan Goudreau
Headquarters
Melbourne, Florida
,
United States
Websitewww.silvercorpusa.com

After Puerto Rico was affected by Hurricane Maria in September 2017, Goudreau served as a security contractor and saw the financial benefits of being in the industry.[6][7] He founded a private security-services company called Silvercorp USA in February 2018.[8]

School safety

Following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that month, he presented a concept of placing undercover special forces veterans in schools at a Florida school security conference in July 2018.[5]

At the convention, Goudreau proposed that parents personally pay $8.99 per month for the service, comparing it to a Netflix subscription.[9] When asked why he preferred personal payments, he said that it was to avoid the "chain of command" at schools, adding "We want private money, because it's faster."[9]

In April 2018, Goudreau began working with schools in Cartagena, Colombia to teach safety classes for students.[6]

Security services for a Trump rally

Silvercorp USA provided security services for at least one rally for President of the United States Donald Trump.[6] At a Trump rally in Charlotte, North Carolina at Bojangles' Coliseum on 26 October 2018, Goudreau could be seen providing security services at the event.[6]

Through connections within the private security community, Goudreau was acquainted with Keith Schiller, President Trump's longtime director of security.[10]

Venezuela
Main article: Operation Gideon (2020)

In February 2019, Silvercorp provided security services at Venezuela Aid Live, which led Goudreau to turn his attention to Venezuela.[11] According to Drew White, a former business associate of Silvercorp, Goudreau saw an opportunity to overthrow Maduro when the Trump administration focused on removing Maduro from power.[10]

Goudreau eventually met with officials from Venezuela interim president Juan Guaidó's team in October and November 2019, tentatively agreeing on plans for an armed operation in Venezuela to capture Maduro, but the two parties separated after disagreements.[12]

On 3 May 2020, Goudreau released a video alongside former Venezuelan National Guard (GNB) officer Javier Nieto Quintero, claiming responsibility for an armed incursion into Venezuelan territory by "land and sea" which he called "Operation Gideon", involving 60 troops and two former United States Army Special Forces members. Goudreau, who was not present in Venezuela, posted updates about the coup attempt on Twitter shortly before and during the operation.[13] He and Nieto Quintero filmed their video in Florida, where they both reside.[14] Goudreau claimed he unsuccessfully sought the backing of the U.S. government for his operation. The Venezuelan government said security forces had foiled a "marine incursion" by "terrorist mercenaries" from neighboring Colombia in Vargas state, killing eight and capturing two. State television showed images of captured weapons, Peruvian documents, and uniforms emblazoned with the American flag.[15][16]

Goudreau and Nieto Quintero, identified as a retired Venezuelan military captain, published a video the same day claiming responsibility for the attack.[17] The following day, Goudreau stated that two of the captured men were U.S. citizens. Airan Berry and Luke Denman, both ex-Green Berets, were captured on their "peñero- type boat by a fisherman.[18] Opposition leader Juan Guaidó has denied any links to the operation.[19]

The Venezuelan government claimed the United States and its Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were responsible for the operation and had support from Colombia.[20] Goudreau claimed that Guaidó and two political advisers had signed a contract with him for $213 million in October 2019.[21]

US federal authorities opened an investigation on Goudreau for arms trafficking.[22] On 8 May 2020, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab requested the extradition of Goudreau from the United States, in addition to Venezuelan opposition politicians Juan José Rendon and Sergio Vergara, for the "design, financing, and execution" of the plan to overthrow Maduro.[23]

Awards and decorations

Sergeant First Class Goudreau's decorations, medals and badges include:[8]

Badge Combat Infantryman Badge
Badge Parachutist Badge
1st row Bronze Star Medal, third award with two oak leaf clusters (Army)
Tabs Special Forces Tab and Ranger tab

References
  1. Freeze, Colin; Dickson, Janice (5 May 2020). "A Canadian-American military man, a failed Venezuela coup and a Twitter video". The Globe and Mail. Toronto and Ottawa. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  2. Bogotá, Julian Borger Joe Parkin Daniels in; McGreal, Chris (2020-05-08). "'His head wasn't in the world of reality': how the plot to invade Venezuela fell apart". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  3. Ex-Green Beret Led Failed Attempt to Oust Venezuela's Maduro NYTimes.com
  4. "Venezuela detains two Americans allegedly involved in failed raid to remove Maduro". The Guardian. 5 May 2020. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  5. Faiola, Anthony; Boburg, Shawn (10 May 2020). "Venezuela raid: How an ex-Green Beret and a defecting general planned to capture Maduro". The Washington Post.
  6. Ward, Alex (2020-05-11). "The "ridiculous" failed coup attempt in Venezuela, explained". Vox. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  7. Goodman, Joshua (2 May 2020). "Ex-Green Beret led failed attempt to oust Venezuela's Maduro". The Washington Post. AP. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  8. Rempfer, Kyle (2020-05-06). "Here's the career info for the former Green Berets involved in Venezuela raid debacle". Military Times. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  9. Rich, John Woodrow Cox, Steven (15 November 2018). "Billions are now spent to protect kids from school shootings. Has it made them safer?". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-05-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. Goodman, Joshua (1 May 2020). "Ex-Green Beret led failed attempt to oust Venezuela's Maduro". Associated Press. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  11. "Venezuela detains two US citizens over speedboat incursion". BBC News. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  12. Faiola, Anthony (6 May 2020). "From a Miami condo to the Venezuelan coast, how a plan to 'capture' Maduro went rogue". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  13. "Don't Tweet About Your Coup". 5 May 2020.
  14. "MAGA, the CIA, and Silvercorp: The Bizarre Backstory of the World's Most Disastrous Coup".
  15. Venezuelan government says it stopped ‘invasion’ launched from Colombia The Washington Post
  16. Boat attack on Venezuela port foiled The Canberra Times
  17. Tiempo, Casa Editorial El (4 May 2020). "El exmilitar de EE. UU. que se atribuye incursión armada en Venezuela" [The armed incursion in Venezuela is attributed to a former US soldier]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  18. "Venezuela's Maduro says two Americans captured in failed invasion attempt". Washington Post.
  19. Vivian Sequera and Brian Ellsworth Venezuelan authorities detain U.S. citizens allegedly involved in incursion Reuters May 4, 2020
  20. "Venezuela: Two US nationals arrested for plotting to overthrow Maduro regime". The Asian Age. AFP. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  21. Phillips, Tom (4 May 2020). "Venezuela: anti-Maduro battle isn't over as ex-US soldier says he launched raid". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  22. Goodman, Joshua; Smith, Scott; Lee, Matthew; Herschaft, Randy (2020-05-06). "Sources: US investigating ex-Green Beret for Venezuela raid". Associated Press (Caracas, Washington, New York). Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  23. "Venezuela's top prosecutor requests extradition of U.S. veteran accused in plot". Reuters. May 8, 2020 – via uk.reuters.com.
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