A federal judge in Tampa has issued an arrest warrant for former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau. He was supposed to attend a court hearing regarding his bail conditions but didn’t show up. This hearing involved whether he should be taken back into custody for violating his release terms.
Goudreau, 49, has faced legal troubles since his arrest last year for weapons smuggling, linked to a failed attempt to topple Venezuela’s government in 2020 during Donald Trump’s presidency. After a brief jail stint, he was released on bond thanks to filmmaker Jen Gatien, who put up her $2 million apartment as collateral. However, Gatien recently testified that Goudreau threatened her and others and expressed a desire to evade jail.
“I believe he intends one day to leave this country,” she said, noting that he previously lived on a sailboat in Mexico. Judge Christopher Tuite, waiting for Goudreau’s arrival for the third day of hearings, issued the warrant after thirty minutes of waiting.
Goudreau’s attorney, Marissel Descalzo, was at a loss and stated she hadn’t spoken to him about his absence. As part of his pre-trial release, Goudreau had been undergoing equine-assisted therapy under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs while wearing an ankle monitor, which was still located in Tampa.
Gatien has also been working on a documentary titled “Men of War,” giving a sympathetic view of Goudreau’s flawed plan to train a group of Venezuelan army deserters in Colombia. The goal was to spark a rebellion against President Nicolás Maduro. This ill-fated operation was exposed just days before it occurred, resulting in fatalities and the capture of two U.S. Special Forces operatives.
Their relationship has deteriorated since the documentary’s release. Gatien accused Goudreau of deceit, claiming he reneged on a financial agreement that would have reduced her risk as his bond guarantor. She shared angry texts from him, with sentiments like “I’m not going back to prison,” which prosecutors interpreted as a sign of his intent to flee.
At the hearing, witnesses included an Oklahoma couple storing Goudreau’s belongings, which included assault rifles. They claimed Goudreau pressured them to make false statements about Gatien. This was part of a pattern of troubling behavior, including demands for false testimony.
The failed 2020 incursion, often called the Bay of Piglets, serves as a cautionary tale about unsophisticated attempts at regime change. Critics have pointed out how the Trump administration’s actions put pressure on Venezuela, including military operations against drug smuggling boats leaving its shores. The UN has called for an end to such military actions to prevent extrajudicial killings.
Goudreau has taken to social media and news interviews, often portraying himself as a victim of sabotage by government agencies, including the CIA. He believes the opposition in Venezuela is as oppressive as Maduro’s regime. “If we do invade Venezuela, what’s next?” he questioned, highlighting the complexities of the situation.
His connection to the Venezuelan cause began after he helped with security at a concert for humanitarian aid. Despite his lack of Spanish, he formed ties with exiled allies of Juan Guaidó, who was backed by the U.S. as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
Prosecutors linked Goudreau to exporting firearms illegally. Two rifles found in Colombia matched those purchased by his security firm, Silvercorp. Goudreau’s upcoming trial scheduled for February will address charges related to failing to secure the necessary export licenses for these weapons.
For more information on similar cases, explore the discussion on arms trafficking and its implications at the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Venezuela, Judge, Florida
