Venez. jails ‘Beret’ duo

20 yrs. in coup plot

A Venezuelan court has sentenced two former US special-forces soldiers to 20 years in prison for their part in a botched bid to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro, according to the country’s chief prosecutor.

Airan Berry (upper inset) and Luke Denman (lower), both former Green Berets, confessed in court proceedings to taking part in the May 4 coup to overthrow the Venez- uelan strongman, said Prosecutor General Tarek Saab in a tweet on Friday.

“They admitted their responsibility,” Saab wrote. “They admitted to conspiracy, the illegal trafficking of weapons and terrorism.”

The plan to overthrow the Venezuelan government — known as “Operation Gideon” — was launched from neighboring Colombia and organized by Jordan Goudreau, another former Green Beret, who runs a private-security company in Florida.

In various social-media postings on the day of the uprising, Goudreau claimed responsibility for the attack that left eight militants dead. More than 60 were arrested by authorities in Venezuela.

A half-dozen family members and close friends of the two captured Americans told NBC News they believe the men would have only participated in the operation had they been convinced it was supported by the Trump administration.

The Trump administration has denied involvement.

Some of the friends and relatives said earlier this year they believe Denman and Berry were misled. “The only conclusion I can draw is he was intentionally deceived,” Denman’s pal Daniel Dochen said. “And Goudreau sent his former comrade-inarms on a suicide mission in service of his ego.”