Federal Judge Issues Arrest Warrant for Bay of Piglets Leader After He Skipped Bond Hearing

Federal Judge Christopher Tuite issued an arrest warrant for a former Green Beret who skipped his bond hearing in Tampa, Florida, on Oct. 31 after he was accused of plotting to invade Venezuela in 2020.

Jordan Goudreau, who led a botched attempt to overthrow the Maduro regime, nicknamed the Bay of Piglets, “failed to appear” at his hearing at the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa, court documents obtained by The Epoch Times revealed.

Friday’s hearing would have decided if the Canadian-born man would be taken back into custody as he awaited weapons smuggling charges tied to the failed coup that he attempted during President Donald Trump’s first term.

“I’m at a loss,” Goudreau’s attorney, Marissel Descalzo, told the judge. “I have not spoken to him as to why he’s not here.”

A probation officer said that even though Goudreau was not at the courthouse, the ankle monitor he was required to wear was still located in the Tampa area.

The Epoch Times reached out to Goudreau’s lawyer for additional comment hours after Goudreau missed the hearing.

The three-time Bronze Star recipient has not publicly commented on his no-show.

The 49-year-old was indicted in July 2024 and granted bond on Sept. 5, 2024, after filmmaker Jen Gatien pledged her Manhattan apartment, valued at approximately $2 million, as collateral for a bond because he did not have his own home, court documents reviewed by The Epoch Times reveal.

Gatien then made the ankle-monitor-wearing Green Beret the subject in her new documentary “Men Of War,” which highlighted his failed attempt to throw a rebellion and remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

But the filmmaker said Goudreau “cut off all contact” with her as of July 2025. On Sep. 30, she filed to remove herself as the surety subject in the bond agreement because she did not believe that Goudreau would comply with the terms of his pre-trial release.

One of the texts allegedly written by Goudreau, which Gatien shared with the court, reads, “I’m not going back to prison.”

Other messages allegedly sent by Goudreau were sprinkled with profanity.

“I believe he intends one day to leave this country,” Gatien testified this week.

Prosecutors tried to block Goudreau’s release, arguing that he would flee as he awaited trial, and called for his return to jail after Gatien asked to be removed as a surety subject.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.