A Venetian court has ruled two former U.S. Special Forces soldiers to 20 years in prison for her part in a failed beach attack aimed at overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro, prosecutors announced. Former Green Berets’ Luke Denman and Airan Berry allowed to take part in the May 4 operation orchestrated by a third former US soldier staying in the United States, Venezuela’s chief lawyer Tarek William Saab announced on Twitter on Friday .
“THEY DESCRIBED YOUR RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FACTS,” Saab wrote, adding that the case will continue for dozens of other suspects. He did not provide details.
“Operation Gideon” was launched from probation camps in neighboring Colombia, killing at least eight rebel soldiers while imprisoning a total of 66. Former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau, who runs a private, Florida-based security company 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 weapons and terrorism.
The two Americans arrested in Chuao’s coastal fishing community have since been widely viewed by Venetian state officials as evidence of their long-held claims that the United States is set to repeat Maduro’s socialist government.
The incident also sparked allegations that US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó had authorized Goudreau through a signed agreement to carry out the attack, carried out by two of Guaidó’s former political advisers.
Guaidó and U.S. officials have denied any involvement 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 had been convicted, Venetian authorities opened the trial of six U.S. operators of the Houston-based Citgo company. The six men were arrested more than two years ago in Venezuela on charges of corruption.
The case had remained for months until former Gov. In New Mexico, Bill Richardson met in person with Maduro in Caracas in July to secure their release and return home to the United States.
Richardson said on Saturday that he would also work to free the convicted veterans, who are both natives of Texas.
“Luke Denman and Airan Berry are American citizens and military veterans who deserve our support,” he said. “We will continue our dialogue with the Venezuelans to try to find a way to bring them back to their families.”
Both cases play out amid hostility between Washington and Caracas. The Trump administration last year threw its support behind opposition leader Guaidó, who declared he was the legitimate president of Venezuela, claiming to oust Maduro.
Guaidó accuses Maduro of the once rich nation’s economic and social collapse, while the socialist leader says that Washington is manipulating Guaidó to steal the nation’s great oil wealth.
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