On May 3, 2020, Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau led Operation Gideon, aimed at overthrowing Nicolás Maduro’s regime through a military incursion in Macuto Bay. Goudreau, along with Yacsy Alexandra Álvarez, is accused of conspiracy to violate export laws, smuggling goods from the United States, violating the Arms Export Control Act, and breaking the Export Control Reform Act. Additionally, he is accused of violating the National Firearms Act and illegal possession of machine guns.
Since November 2019, Goudreau, Álvarez, and others conspired to export AR-type firearms, night vision devices, laser sights, and other equipment from the U.S. to Colombia without the necessary export licenses. The intent behind these exports was an armed incursion into Venezuela to topple Maduro.
The accused obtained firearms and military equipment through Silvercorp—Goudreau’s company based in Melbourne—and exported them to Colombia, where some were seized by the Colombian National Police.
In this case, processed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, Goudreau and Álvarez face maximum penalties if convicted: five years in prison for conspiracy; 10 years for smuggling; 20 years for violations of export control laws; and 10 years for each violation of the National Firearms Act and illegal possession of a machine gun.
The Charges Against Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau
On July 16, 2024, an indictment was filed against Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau and Yacsy Alexandra Álvarez Mirabal—a Venezuelan residing in Colombia—before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. This indictment outlines an alleged plot to illegally export weapons and military equipment from the U.S. to Colombia, intending an armed incursion into Venezuela to overthrow Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Numerous violations of U.S. laws are listed, including conspiracy, smuggling, and multiple counts of violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Control Reform Act, as well as the National Firearms Act. The document also specifies seized defense items and the intent to confiscate properties related to these illegal activities.
The following charges are brought against them:
- Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 371): To illegally export firearms and controlled goods.
- Smuggling goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. § 554): Concerning the illegal export of goods.
- Violation of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. § 2778): For exporting defense articles without a license.
- Violation of the Export Control Reform Act (50 U.S.C. § 4819): For exporting controlled goods, software, and technology.
- Violation of the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)): For illegal possession of silencers.
- Illegal possession of a machine gun (18 U.S.C. § 922(o)): For possessing automatic weapons.
Details of the Conspiracy: Timeline
Group of detainees in Operation Gideon
According to the indictment, between November 2019 and March 2020, Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau and Yacsy Alexandra Álvarez Mirabal conspired to illegally export AR-type weapons, night vision sights, laser sights, and other equipment from the U.S. to Colombia for an armed incursion in Venezuela with the intent of toppling Nicolás Maduro Moros.
On December 17, 2019, Goudreau purchased components for assembling AR-type weapons to be delivered to his company, SILVERCORP, in Melbourne, Florida. This equipment would be assembled and transported within the United States before being shipped to Colombia. It included AR-type firearms, silencers, night vision devices, laser sights, and helmets.
Goudreau and Álvarez communicated via text messages and emails to coordinate the export of the equipment. They used “various techniques to protect their anonymity and frustrate detection of their activities by the government and law enforcement agencies.”
Goudreau paid Álvarez for her services through Zelle transfers, including:
- USD 2,000 on December 30, 2019,
- USD 2,000 on December 31, 2019,
- USD 3,000 on January 24, 2020,
- USD 1,300 on March 11, 2020.
On November 7, 2019, Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau texted an equipment distributor, saying, “Here’s the list, bro,” which included, among other things, night vision sights, ballistic helmets, AR-15 rifles with iron sights and red dot sights.
On November 12, 2019, Goudreau, through SILVERCORP, signed a loan agreement for an associate, promising to repay USD 100,000 plus an additional USD 100,000 in 12 months.
On December 15, 2019, Goudreau purchased six dual-beam laser sights, Steiner eOptics Laser Devices DBAL-12.
On December 24, 2019, Goudreau acquired 30 Vortex Optics SPARC red dot sights and eight “solvent traps,” also known as silencers.
On December 27, 2019, the defendant purchased, through SILVERCORP, a Cranchi Endurance 41 yacht for approximately USD 90,000.
On January 2, 2020, Jordan Guy Macdonald Goudreau ordered a KDSG PVS-14 L3 Gen 3 monocular.
Between January 15 and 16, 2020, Goudreau and Álvarez, along with others, traveled by private plane to Barranquilla, Colombia, from Opa Locka Executive Airport in Miami, Florida.
On January 12, 2020, Goudreau texted Álvarez, listing the contents they would send to Colombia by private plane, including “60 vests,” “60 steel plates,” “3 medical bags,” “60 plastic helmets,” and “airsoft helmets.”
On January 24, 2020: Goudreau and Álvarez sailed from the Florida coast on the Cranchi Endurance 41 yacht Goudreau had purchased. They transported “thousands of rounds of .556 caliber ammunition, bulletproof vests, body armor, military-style helmets, and high-capacity magazines for AR-15 rifles.”
On March 23, 2020: Yacsy Alexandra Álvarez Mirabal and an associate were intercepted in Barranquilla, Colombia, by the Colombian National Police, which seized suitcases loaded with “AR-type firearms, night vision devices, laser sights, helmets, and solvent traps.” Twenty-four semi-automatic AR firearms were also confiscated.
Seized Items and Final Destination
The seizure on March 23, 2020, by the Colombian National Police in Santa Marta, Colombia, included a variety of items:
- 2 fully automatic AR-type firearms (List II(c)(2)(iv))
- 7 green laser sights Sniper FL3000R (List XII(c)(2)(iv))
- 7 dual-beam aiming laser devices Steiner eOptics Laser Devices Dual Beam Aiming Laser Intelligent DBAL-I2 (List XII(c)(2))
- 7 tactical aiming sights Steiner OTAL-C IR Offset (List XII(c)(2)(iv))
- 1 KDSG PVS-14 L3 Gen 3 monocular (List XII(c)(2)(ii))
- 8 compact red dot sights Sig Sauer Romeo5 XDR (0A504.c)
- 12 compact red dot sights Sig Sauer Romeo5 1x20mm (0A504.c)
- 23 Vortex Optics SPARC Red Dot optical sights (0A504.c)
- 8 silencers (“solvent traps”)
- 24 semi-automatic AR-type firearms
The indictment calls for the confiscation of any property, real or personal, used or intended to commit the violation, or that constitutes or is traceable as the product of the violation.
Motion for Protection Against Goudreau and Álvarez Mirabal
On June 23, 2025, the prosecution presented to the District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, a request for a protective order for discovery material to prevent unauthorized disclosure of information contained within it to non-litigants.
The government seeks to establish safeguards to “protect the privacy interests of the accused, witnesses, and other third parties.”
As of the mentioned date, the government had made eight continuous discovery productions to the defense. These included:
- Statements the defendants made to law enforcement during the time period covered by the indictment.
- Travel and financial records of the defendants.
- Licensing and firearms determinations for the charged items.
- Purchase records and invoices.
- Text messages.
- Records from the Colombian National Police.
- 10 terabytes of information obtained from search warrants.
In addition, reports of interviews with several individuals, some of which were conducted before the indictment due to Goudreau’s public statements that the failed incursion was “authorized by individuals working for or with the U.S. Government.”
The government highlighted the presence of sensitive information in the discovery materials, justifying the need for a protective order. A key example is an FBI 302 report that “contains sensitive information regarding the conspiracy to remove President Maduro that a third party provided as part of their cooperation.”
The protective order would apply to any filing made after the issuance date of the order.
Goudreau’s Motion to Modify Bail Conditions
On May 23, 2025, Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau filed a motion with the court requesting two main changes to the bail conditions granted to him on September 5, 2024.
At that time, it was established that the defendant was obligated to reside in the Northern District of Florida with custodian Ryan Reeves. The current motion seeks to allow Goudreau to reside in the Middle District of Florida and to have Reeves removed as his custodian.
The main reason for the request to change residence to the Middle District of Florida is to participate in veteran assistance programs. Specifically, the motion asks that the order “establish that Goudreau can attend all programming recommended by the Veterans Programs, including all medical and therapy appointments.”
The prosecution did not object, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Tuite granted the motion.
Travel Motion of Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau
On May 1, 2025, Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau filed a motion in court requesting permission to leave the state of Florida. At the time of the request, the defendant was allowed to travel throughout Florida but was not permitted to stay overnight outside the district where he resides.
Goudreau required to travel to the Middle District of Florida for medical appointments at the Department of Veterans Affairs on May 2, 5, 19, and 20, 2025. He also planned to use the additional time for legal meetings with his lawyers.
The proposed travel would be from May 2, 2025, to May 20, 2025. The motion met no objections from the prosecution, as Goudreau has complied with his pretrial conditions. The court granted the motion, provided that Goudreau submits his detailed itinerary to Pretrial Services.
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