2 ex-Green Berets sentenced to 20 years for Venezuela attack
Associated Press
August 8, 2020
CARACAS,
Venezuela — A Venezuelan court has sentenced two former U.S.
special forces soldiers to 20 years in prison for their part in a failed
beach attack aimed at overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro,
prosecutors announced.
Former
Green Berets Luke Denman and Airan Berry admitted to taking part in the
May 4 operation orchestrated by a third ex-U.S. soldier who remains in
the United States, Venezuelan's chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab
announced on Twitter on Friday.
“THEY
ADMITTED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FACTS,” Saab wrote, adding that
the case will continue for dozens of other defendants. He did not offer
details.
“Operation
Gideon" was launched from makeshift training camps in neighboring
Colombia and left at least eight rebel soldiers dead while a total of 66
were jailed. Former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau, who operated a
private, Florida-based security firm called Silvercorp USA, claimed
responsibility for the failed attack.
Venezuelan prosecutors
announced that Denman and Berry, both decorated former U.S. service
members, were found guilty of conspiracy, trafficking in illegal arms
and terrorism.
The
two Americans arrested in the coastal fishing community of Chuao have
ever since been widely displayed by officials on Venezuelan state TV as
proof of their long-held claims that the United States is set on
overthrowing Maduro's socialist government.
The
incident also unleashed claims that U.S. backed opposition leader Juan
Guaidó had authorized Goudreau through a signed agreement to carry out
the attack, executed by two of Guaidó's former political advisors.
Guaidó
and U.S. officials have denied any role in the attack. Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo said Washington would use all possible means to win
the freedom of Denman and Berry.
A day before authorities announced that
the two ex-Green Berets were sentenced, Venezuelan authorities opened
the trial of six American executives of the Houston-based Citgo company.
The six men were arrested over two years ago in Venezuela on corruption
charges.
The case had
lingered for months until former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson met
personally in July with Maduro in Caracas to urge they be released so
they could return home to the United States.
Both
play out amid hostility between Washington and Caracas. The Trump
administration last year threw its support behind opposition leader
Guaidó, who declared he was Venezuela’s legitimate president, vowing to
oust Maduro.
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