And the Skipper Too

The Millionaires, Their Wives... and a Three-Hour Tour?

On July 8th, 1986, Captain John Ambielli, 40, leaned forward in his suburban New Orleans home with a steaming coffee in hand and the sports section of the morning paper spread out in front of him, when the phone beside the couch jangled loudly.

In the kitchen, his wife glanced up from her American Sign Language textbook. She had just completed her final exams at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, pursuing her dream to establish a deaf ministry at their Southern Baptist church. Despite biblical teachings that discouraged divorce, both found their second marriages to be a blessing from the Lord. John, with his kind smile and steady church attendance, had proven to be a devoted husband and father. His reputation as a model citizen was well-earned.

However, maintaining his role as provider had been challenging since the oil industry's downturn in the early '80s. In 1983, John's steady work as a Navy boat captain had begun to wane,¹ prompting their move from Houma, where they had lived for seven years, to an apartment in Lafayette. This move was a bid for stability as John sought any available work. For the last three years, he found intermittent employment with Briley Marine on 90E in Morgan City, doing odd jobs on one of their 38 boats across the Gulf of Mexico. Briley's fleet was versatile, handling everything from cargo hauls to emergency responses on oil tankers.

Whoever was calling at this early hour, had John on edge, even more than usual. She knew little of this new business he was about, John kept trying to convince her that their money problems would soon be a thing of the past.

Flipping the cord like a lasso rollover around the table leg to avoid a snag, John he walked through the French doors leading to the alley. Outside, he stared at a vacant lot used by the kids in the complex as a soccer field. John lifted the receiver to his ear and introduced himself.

The caller, identifying himself as "Jim Larson," was actually Special Agent Harold McGovern from the U.S. Customs Service. A confidential informant introduced him to John after learning that John was raising money for a coup in South America. ²John’s tone was cautious but hopeful as he answered, "Nice to meet you, Jim. I appreciate you reaching out.”

John went on to explain that his organization, the United Defense Fund, in collaboration with their affiliate Freedom Force One, was raising funds for a covert government operation in South America. "Our focus is eliminating the Marxist regime of Suriname, bordering Brazil. The dictator there has been cozy with Castro for far too long, I've been told you might be interested in an opportunity that offers much better returns than your usual bank CD rates.” "John paused, gauging the agent's reaction before continuing. “How would 10 to 1 grab ya?”³ ⁴

"Alright, you’ve got my attention," McGovern responded, "And what role do you play in all this?"

"You could call me the Skipper of the S.S. Minnow," John replied with a hint of irony. "I’m in charge of logistics and backup, shipping in reinforcements and being stationed offshore, ready to make a quick exit if necessary."

USS Saco (YTB-796). Captain Ambielli served as captain of this large harbor tug in Guam and Long Beach. He once aided in an operation involving underwater work on the USS Acadia’s propeller in 1983. Photo source: Wikipedia.

McGovern exchanged a knowing look at his parter at the U.S. Customs office whose headset was plugged into the reel-to-reel as if to say, “Are you catching all this?”

John, believing he was the one doing the fishing, knew when it was time to reel your catch—being careful not to let them squirm off the hook. "If you’re serious, I’ll put you in touch with the man running the operation. He goes by Tango, or Tom. Give me a call tomorrow and we’ll discuss the details. Sound like a plan?"

The men agreed, and John returned to his living room, his thoughts far from the sports page and updates on the Saint’s training camp. Instead, he dreamed of the boat he could buy with the $500,000 he’d been promised for a 30-day mission to Suriname—and the possibility of a $2 million bonus. They’d be set for life.

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The next morning, Special Agent McGovern called John Ambielli to confirm that he was “in.” Pleased, John advised him to expect a follow-up from the man running the show. True to John's word, a call from a 504 area code rang through later that day. On the other end was Tom Denley, who was spearheading the “project down south.” The men arranged to meet that evening at Tom's current residence in eastern New Orleans, a stone's throw from the old Lakefront Airport on Lake Pontchartrain.

Agent McGovern coasted his car to a stop under a lush canopy of magnolia trees on E. Laverne Street. The sunlight, filtered through the leaves, cast playful, dappled patterns on the ground, enhancing the area's serene and picturesque charm typical of Southern neighborhoods. The brick ranch home belonged to Tommy’s girlfriend, Barbara Jean Johnson (45), whose personality was as fiery as her red hair and as piercing as her yellow eyes. U.S. District Judge Lansing Mitchell later remarked of her, “Someone once told me she could make Rambo look like a kindergarten boy.”⁵

Barbara's past was as colorful as her current life. A few years prior, she worked as a cook on the M/V Champion Express, a bulk cargo ship carrying oil and liquid fertilizer. Although not part of her job description, her supervisor ordered her to make up the bunks while the ship was moored and she injured her back in a fall. The accident led to a court case where the ship’s manufacturer, Offshore Express, was found negligent and the vessel declared unseaworthy. The courts awarded Barbara a substantial settlement of $564,666.⁶⁷⁸

In the years following her accident, Barbara's 19-year-old son, Michael, supported her by picking up jobs as a tree trimmer and learning the welding trade. He still found time to attend the local youth group. They moved between Galveston and New Orleans, navigating hospital visits for ongoing rehab and pain management. Although Barbara made significant progress, moving from crutches to a cane, the surgeries left indelible scars—not just physically but also on her sense of security. Despite standing only 5'0", she carried a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in her purse for protection.⁹¹⁰

Tommy Lynn Denley had been tracking Barbara's story through in the newspapers, seeing in her circumstances not just a tale of resilience but also an opportunity. Portraying himself as a young, capable suitor, he quickly endeared himself to Barbara and by June of 1986, he had moved into the home she shared with Michael.¹¹

When Agent McGovern knocked on the door of their home that balmy evening, he was greeted by Tommy, who introduced himself casually as Tom. He welcomed McGovern inside and offered him a seat in the living room. After the offer of a drink and some initial small talk to break the ice, the conversation swiftly turned to business.

Headquarters for the plot to overthrow Suriname

Tommy presented a bold plan: he had secured an agreement with the Netherlands government to facilitate a coup in Suriname. He produced a signed contract between the ANSUS Foundation President, George Arthur Baker, and Tango Lima Delta, Inc.—Tommy's own company. The contract promised 1.5 billion guilders to Tango Lima Delta, Inc., contingent upon the successful turnover of the Surinamese government to the ANSUS Foundation.¹² According to Tommy, the funds were to be sourced from public money, once Dutch foreign aid was reinstated, which had been suspended since Bouterse’s coup.¹³¹⁴

Source: FBI FOIA Request.

Tommy Denley leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "Here's the beautiful part—they will never see us coming." He slid a proposal drafted by Jim Gentile across the table towards Agent McGovern. It outlined an agreement between Suriname's alleged Minister of Finance, Juan Brinkmann, and North American Marine, represented by none other than their president, Tommy himself. The proposal was audacious—to take control of an existing bank in Suriname for the purpose of establishing confidential, Swiss-styled bank accounts along the lines of what Manuel Noriega was doing in Panama.

"The real surprise will be waiting after they let us into the room," Tommy explained with a sly grin. "That's when we deliver the surprise of a lifetime." His plan was to take President Bouterse hostage during the meeting, using the chaos to seize control of the country.

"For the operation's initial phase, we need $20,000," Tommy continued, his tone business-like as he recounted the logistics. "That'll cover hotel accommodations for 30 men before departure, and for lodging in Suriname upon arrival." Recalling his logistical experience as office manager at Georgia Jet Inc, he added, "We'll also need a transport plane capable of carrying thirty men to Suriname. A DC-3 ought to do it."

In attempt to seal the deal by providing some legitimacy to the endeavor, Tommy slid over a contract between the ANSUS-Foundation, President George Arthur Baker, and Tango Lima Delta, Inc. whose president was Tommy. The contract read in pertinent part:

Tango Lima Delta, Inc., is to furnish the men, equipment, and money to remove from power the dictator regime in the Country of Suriname, South America. Ansus-Foundation is to pay Tango Lima Delta, Inc., one and one-half (1.5) billion guilders upon turning over the government of the aforementioned Suriname to the Ansus-Foundation. ¹⁵

Over the subsequent weeks, Tommy gradually revealed more details through a series of four additional calls and meetings. With each encounter, the undercover agents earned more trust and hours of taped recordings.

"So far, we've assembled three combat teams," Tommy disclosed during their final meeting. "The first consists of about 30 highly trained men, many of them Green Berets. All have been hand-picked and specially trained for operations like this. Twelve of these men will accompany me as my security detail, armed with U.S. M-60s and Israeli Uzi machine guns."¹⁶

Agent McGovern listened intently, his expression betraying none of the concern he felt inside. When he pressed Tommy about the legal and ethical ramifications of their operation, specifically if the men involved were fully aware of its illegality, Tommy's response was direct and unfazed. "These men are not only highly trained but fully aware of the stakes. They understand exactly what they are getting into," he assured with a confidence that bordered on arrogance.

Tommy then detailed the second combat team's composition and the intricate network supporting it. This team consisted of 400 Miskito Indian contras from Nicaragua, who had been grievously impacted during the Nicaraguan Revolution when the Sandinistas confiscated and nationalized their lands. These contras were now regrouping in Honduras, receiving support via the likes of Jim “Tank” Wester and Fred Rich, seasoned mercenary trainers who’d trained with Montag¹⁷nard tribesmen in Vietnam.¹⁸¹⁹²⁰

The Miskitos had not just suffered losses; they had become a crucial part of a covert operation extending beyond Central America. Funded and equipped by none other than Oliver North, with logistics managed through 'the courier,' Robert Owen, their involvement was a textbook example of the type of convoluted financial shell game used in Project Democracy. Dutch newspapers had uncovered that the Miskitos were promised funding to continue their fight against the Sandinistas after being recruited for an additional mission: to assist in Tommy Denley’s planned coup in Suriname.²¹²²

The details of the final combat troop were never fully disclosed (or were omitted from Agent McGovern’s later records), but their identity can be inferred from available data. As mentioned in a previous article, Tommy and his 12-member security detail originally planned to fly to Suriname on July 21st, 1986, to finalize agreements with Bouterse. However, this still leaves approximately 18 mercenaries unaccounted for. As we shall see, Ronnie Brunswijk, supported by the remaining mercenaries arriving from around the globe, planned to launch an assault on Suriname— on that same date. This was Tommy’s third, unnamed, combat troop: Romeo Bravo.

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In the days leading up to the scheduled meeting with representatives from the alleged international banks, Hector Tellez had not yet finalized his crew of mercenaries. He had received a call from 'Jim Larson'—actually Special Agent Dunbar—informing him that he and his men were available for hire for mercenary-type activities.

Tellez brought Dunbar to New Orleans where he met Tommy Lynn Denley, Barbara Johnson and Captain John Ambelli. They group informed Dunbar that counting his men, they only needed 16 more people who they hoped to pay $500/week, with a million dollar bonus if their mission to overthrow Bouterse was successful.

Their most promising lead was a man named Fred Rich, also known as Sgt. Major Bacsi, who Hector visited earlier that year where he’d found him living in a dirt-floor shack adorned with early American flags, a dummy M-16, and a map of Central America. Located on State Route Y in remote Missouri, Fred was biding his time a part-time security company with his roommate, Homer 'Animal' Phillips. When Fred and Hector last spoke, Fred claimed connections with friends who had conducted secret missions in Central America for the U.S. government and could assemble the necessary security detail, even offering to bring a Korean semi-automatic rifle.

A week before their scheduled departure, while Hector awaited a final headcount from Fred, Tommy Lynn Denley contacted Special Agent McGovern on July 14 to confirm the target date—exactly two weeks away. Unknown to Tommy, Bouterse had grown suspicious. He postponed the meeting a week after the 23 bankers and their security detail refused to disclose their identities in advance. Rumors in the press about his former body guard Ronnie Brunswijk, the 'Black Robin Hood,' returning to Suriname only 4 months after Captain Zack’s failed coup, led Bouterse to suspect there might be something brewing behind the scenes.

1. J. L. Ambielli, Jr. U.S., Navy Cruise Books, 1918-2009. USS Acadia, AD-42. Accessed September 6, 2023. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/5073961:2348?tid=&pid=&queryId=ca384b3cbff07dd48163b0205ffeae7e&_phsrc=pjy1651&_phstart=successSource.

2. Jung, Warren B. “Affidavit for Search Warrant, United States of America vs. 7110 East Laverne Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.” U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, July 28, 1986. Archives of the Ft. Worth National Archives, Ft. Worth, Texas. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f2tl51djwv0uyq89jw5g1/Affidavit-for-Search-Warrant.pdf?rlkey=ab1xdgtlzsgorxzxhlceybg6i&st=63civ1h1&dl=0.

3. Evansville Press. “Survivalist Says Men Were ‘Duped’ in Suriname Plot.” July 31, 1986.

4. St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch. “Plot/Mercenary Scheme Didn’t Fly.” July 30, 1987. GenealogyBank.com - The Largest Newspaper Archive for Family History Research. https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01201119024234081701714362414

5. The Marion Star. “Bright Receives Probation for Role in Suriname Plot.” November 6, 1986. newspapers.com/article/the-marion-star-bright-receives-probatio/127110667/

6. vLex. “Johnson v. Offshore Exp., Inc.” Accessed January 28, 2024. https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/johnson-v-offshore-exp-891022181.

7. “Johnson v. Offshore Exp., Inc., 845 F.2d 1347 | Casetext Search + Citator.” Accessed January 28, 2024. https://casetext.com/case/johnson-v-offshore-exp-inc.

8. United States of America vs Michael J. Johnson, No. Case Number: No. 86-355 (United States District Court Eastern District of Louisiana August 15, 1986).

9. Troy Daily News. “Suriname.” July 30, 1986. https://www.newspapers.com/article/troy-daily-news-suriname/127097280/

10. Hutchinson News,, p. 24 | NewspaperArchive. “Judge Denies Bond for Kansas Man.” August 8, 1986.  https://newspaperarchive.com/hutchinson-news-aug-08-1986-p-24/

11. Petacque, Art. “Accused Hit Man’s Brother Helped Plot Surinam Coup.” Chicago Sun-Times, July 19, 1987. GenealogyBank.com. https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01201119024234081701714003465.

12. Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Series 3: FOIA Request No. 1632770: Tommy Lynn Denley.” Information Management Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, May 22, 2024. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mcwfzd7obb38wbof213hn/Section-3.pdf?rlkey=1zy9hahj7041owbgj98hm8k0t&st=jp4v1v9j&dl=0.

13. United States District Court. United States of America v. Tommy Lynn Denley, et al, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana 1986).

14. Leidsch Dagblad. “Bouterse Zeker van Contacten Met Brunswijk Hurrlingen Als ‘Bankiers.’” July 30, 1986. Historische Kranten, Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken. https://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LD/1986-07-30/edition/0/page/13.

15. Jung, Warren B. “Affidavit for Search Warrant, United States of America vs. 7110 East Laverne Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.” U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, July 28, 1986. Archives of the Ft. Worth National Archives, Ft. Worth, Texas. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f2tl51djwv0uyq89jw5g1/Affidavit-for-Search-Warrant.pdf?rlkey=ab1xdgtlzsgorxzxhlceybg6i&st=63civ1h1&dl=0.

16. Some sources say 40. Its possible the final number varied by availability of mercenaries.

17. UPI. “A Federal Magistrate Today Denied Bond to Six of... - UPI Archives.” Accessed June 25, 2023. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/01/A-federal-magistrate-today-denied-bond-to-six-of/3238523252800/.

18. Columbia Daily Tribune. “Survivor.” April 20, 1986. https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-survivor/141897698/

19. The Times-Picayune/The States-Item. “Plot.” July 29, 1986. https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01201119024234081701714537309

20. Daily American Republic. “Suspects Reportedly Visit Missouri Self-Reliance Camp.” July 31, 1986.

21. “IRAN-CONTRA INVESTIGATION DAY 8 PART 3.” Senate Cmte. Secret Military Assistance | Hse. Cmte. to Investigate Covert Arms. C-SPAN.org. Accessed February 13, 2024. https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5106332/user-clip-robert-w-owen-money-miskito-indian-faction.

22. Leidsch Dagblad. “Bouterse Zeker van Contacten Met Brunswijk Hurrlingen Als ‘Bankiers.’” July 30, 1986. Historische Kranten, Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken. https://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LD/1986-07-30/edition/0/page/13.