MIAMI — A joint Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami investigation has led to the arrest of a U.S. Army veteran and a Venezuelan national for their alleged roles involving multiple infractions of firearms and firearms exportation laws.
Jordan Guy MacDonald Goudreau, 48, of Melbourne, and Yacsy Alexandra Alvarez, 43, of Tampa, were arrested July 31, pursuant to a now-unsealed indictment charging them with conspiracy to violate export laws, smuggling goods from the United States, violating the Arms Export Control Act and violating the Export Control Reform Act. The indictment also charges Goudreau with violating the National Firearms Act and unlawful possession of machine guns.
According to court documents, beginning in November 2019, Goudreau, Alvarez and others conspired to export AR-type firearms, night vision devices, laser sights and other equipment from the United States to Colombia without obtaining the required export licenses. These unlicensed exports were undertaken to carry out activities in Venezuela.
In furtherance of the conspiracy, Goudreau, Alvarez and their co-conspirators procured firearms and military-related equipment through Goudreau’s Melbourne-based company, Silvercorp, and exported those items to Colombia, where some of the items were seized by the Colombia National Police. The indictment further alleges that Goudreau unlawfully possessed machine guns and unregistered silencers.
If convicted, Goudreau and Alvarez face the following maximum penalties: Five years in prison for conspiracy, 10 years in prison for smuggling, 20 years in prison for violations of export control laws, and 10 years in prison for each violation of the National Firearms Act and unlawful possession of a machine gun. The indictment also notifies Goudreau and Alvarez that the United States intends to forfeit firearms and other military equipment alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
This case was investigated by HSI Miami, including HSI Space Coast and HSI Bogota in Colombia, the FBI, and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, HSI Tampa and HSI New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Middle District of Florida Risha Asokan and Daniel J. Marcet and trial attorneys Menno Goedman and Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.