Federal authorities have charged a U.S. Army soldier with exploiting classified military information to earn more than $400,000 through online betting tied to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Prosecutors say 38-year-old Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a Special Forces member stationed at Fort Bragg, was directly involved in planning and carrying out the January 2026 operation targeting Maduro. During that time, he allegedly used sensitive, nonpublic information to place bets on the prediction platform Polymarket.
According to the indictment, Van Dyke placed multiple wagers predicting key outcomes of the mission, including Maduro’s removal from power. Officials claim those bets generated profits exceeding $400,000.
He now faces several federal charges, including misuse of confidential government information, wire fraud, commodities fraud, and theft of government data. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
Investigators allege that after the operation, Van Dyke attempted to conceal his winnings by moving funds through cryptocurrency accounts and transferring them into brokerage accounts. He also reportedly tried to have his betting account deleted.
Officials emphasized that individuals entrusted with classified information are strictly prohibited from using it for personal financial gain. The case is being pursued by federal prosecutors in New York, with parallel civil action also filed by regulators.