MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuelan court sentenced two former US soldiers to 20 years in prison over a failed coup to oust Maduro

Former Green Berets Luke Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, admitted to participating in the May 4 operation, prosecutor Saab wrote on his Twitter account.

A Venezuelan court sentenced two former US 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 said over the weekend.

Former Green Berets Luke Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, admitted to participating in the May 4 operation, Mr 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, Mr Saab wrote.

Mr 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. Mr 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 Mr Maduro to the United States.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido's office said Mr Guaido had known about the operation since October, but did not finance or order it.

Mr Maduro, who describes Mr Guaido as a Washington puppet, has said that President Donald Trump's government backed the operation. The Trump administration has denied any direct involvement.