Venezuela sentences 2 Americans to 20 years in prison for attempting to kill Maduro

Jesus Silva
Press TV, Caracas

Venezuela’s judicial branch convicted two American soldiers who took part in Operacion Gedeon, a paramilitary operation planned to assassinate the country’s President Nicolas Maduro a few months ago.

Luke Denman and Airan Berry confessed that they were hired by US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido to take the life of Maduro, and consequently a criminal tribunal found them guilty.

The two American mercenaries were caught by Venezuelan military officials and failed to achieve their goal in Caracas.

Investigations found evidence of a contract signed by Guaido, in which the criminal mission was agreed with the hitmen and a US firm that had participated in American wars in the Middle East.

Venezuelan officials say the judges’ verdict follows the rule of law. On the other hand, the opposition criticizes the verdict. Nonetheless, authorities claim that plenty of evidence exists about the terrorists.

The conviction of the two American soldiers is a clear message from Caracas to Washington. Officials say that any foreign attempt to overthrow President Maduro will be strongly punished based on the Venezuelan law.

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