US Veteran Flees Ahead of Trial Over Failed 2020 Maduro Ouster Plot

Defendant Jordan Goudreau, a U.S. military veteran, has absconded and is now a fugitive, federal prosecutors say.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:30pm

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A U.S. military veteran named Jordan Goudreau, who was awaiting trial on U.S. charges related to a failed May 2020 armed incursion to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has absconded and is now a fugitive, according to federal prosecutors.

Why it matters

The failed 2020 plot to overthrow Maduro was a high-profile incident that strained relations between the U.S. and Venezuela. Goudreau's disappearance ahead of his trial raises questions about the status of the case and the ability of U.S. authorities to hold those involved accountable.

The details

Goudreau, a U.S. military veteran, was facing charges in the U.S. related to the failed May 2020 armed incursion that aimed to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. However, federal prosecutors have now revealed that Goudreau has absconded and is a fugitive, according to his lawyer Marissel Dezcalzo, who said they do not know his current whereabouts.

  • On May 3, 2020, the failed armed incursion to oust Maduro took place.
  • On March 13, 2026, federal prosecutors announced that Goudreau had absconded and is now a fugitive.

The players

Jordan Goudreau

A U.S. military veteran who was awaiting trial on U.S. charges related to the failed May 2020 armed incursion to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Nicolas Maduro

The current president of Venezuela, who was the target of the failed May 2020 armed incursion.

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What they’re saying

“We do not know where he is.”

— Marissel Dezcalzo, Lawyer for Jordan Goudreau

What’s next

Federal authorities are likely to issue an arrest warrant for Jordan Goudreau and initiate an international manhunt to locate and apprehend the fugitive.

The takeaway

The disappearance of Jordan Goudreau ahead of his trial related to the failed 2020 plot to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro highlights the ongoing challenges in holding those involved in such high-profile incidents accountable, and raises further questions about the status and implications of the case.