A federal judge ordered the arrest of Jordan Goudreau, a 49-year-old former Green Beret, for failing to appear at a court hearing evaluating whether he should return to custody for violating the conditions of his probation.
Goudreau faces weapons smuggling charges related to the failed armed incursion attempt in Venezuela in 2020, during Donald Trump’s first administration.
Judge Christopher Tuite issued the arrest warrant after waiting 30 minutes for his appearance. According to a parole agent, Goudreau’s ankle monitor was still active in Tampa, where he was receiving equine-assisted therapy under supervision of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The veteran had been released after a brief preventive detention, thanks to the guarantee offered by filmmaker Jen Gatien, who put up his apartment in Manhattan, valued at 2 million dollars, as bail. However, Gatien recently reported that Goudreau became abusive, threatened her and expressed his intention not to return to prison. “I think he intends to leave the country,” he declared, remembering that he lived on a sailboat in Mexico.
According to the AP news agency, the situation worsened after the premiere of the documentary “Men of War”, directed by Gatien, which portrays Goudreau’s plan to train Venezuelan deserters in Colombia in order to provoke a rebellion and overthrow President Nicolás Maduro. The operation, revealed by the AP two days before his execution, failed miserably and left two Americans dead and two Americans imprisoned in Venezuela.
In recent court filings, Gatien accused Goudreau of deception, financial coercion and threats, as well as reneging on an undisclosed agreement to support bail with assets such as gold, cash and cryptocurrency. Captures of text messages presented in court show statements such as “I’m not going back to jail,” which prosecutors say evidence an intention to escape.
It was also revealed that an Oklahoma couple, who were storing Goudreau’s belongings, were pressured to falsely accuse Gatien and recover two assault rifles, potentially violating a court ban on carrying weapons.
The documentary “Men of War,” directed by Jen Gatien, portrays Jordan Goudreau’s failed plan to train mercenaries in Colombia with the goal of overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro through an armed incursion. The plot, revealed by the AP before his execution, was quickly neutralized by Venezuelan forces, leaving two Americans dead and two Americans imprisoned.
Following the film’s release, Gatien accused Goudreau of deception, threats and financial coercion, saying he reneged on an undisclosed agreement to support his bail with assets such as cash, gold and cryptocurrency.
