Venezuela sentences ex-US forces to jail for subversive invasion
A Venezuelan court sentences two former US special forces soldiers to 20 years in prison for their role in a failed incursion aimed at ousting President Nicolas Maduro in early May, chief prosecutor Tarek Saab says.
Former Green Berets Luke Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, admitted to participating in the May 4 operation, Saab wrote on his Twitter account.
"Said gentlemen ADMITTED to having committed the crimes," he wrote, adding that the trials were ongoing for dozens of others captured.
Denman and Berry were charged with conspiracy, terrorism, and illicit weapons trafficking, Saab wrote.
Alfonso Medina, a lawyer for the two, said their legal team was not allowed into the courtroom. The two men were not available for comment.
The sea incursion launched from Colombia, known as Operation Gideon, left at least eight dead.
Maduro's government said it arrested a group of conspirators that included Denman and Berry near the isolated coastal town of Chuao.
US special forces veteran Jordan Goudreau, who ran Silvercorp USA, a private Florida-based security firm, has claimed responsibility for the raid.
Denman appeared in a video on Venezuelan state TV days after their capture, saying they had been contracted by Silvercorp USA to train 50 to 60 Venezuelans in Colombia, seize control of Caracas' airport, and bring in a plane to fly Maduro to the United States.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido's office said Guaido had known about the operation since October, but did not finance or order it.
Maduro, who describes Guaido as a Washington puppet, has said that President Donald Trump's government backed the operation.
The Trump administration has denied any direct involvement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the US government would use "every tool" to secure the US citizens' return.
(Source: Reuters)
US sanctions on Venezuelan oil ‘violation of human rights’: Iran
Venezuela slams US over reimposition of 'criminal' oil sanctions
Venezuela blames Israel, UN’s inaction for worsening instability in West Asia
VIDEO | Press TV’s news headlines
Iraq’s Islamic resistance hits two Israeli military bases with drones
VIDEO | An Insider’s View of the Country: Agricultural Products in Birjand and Kharg Island
UNRWA chief: Israel continues to deny humanitarian access to UN in Gaza
VIDEO | Iraqi lawmakers call for expulsion of US ambassador from country
VIDEO | Al-Qassam rocket strike kills, wounds over dozen Israeli soldiers
OIC denounces Israeli genocide in Gaza, urges sanctions against regime
VIDEO | Gaza ceasefire talks
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
