A United States Army soldier has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly using classified military information to make over $400,000 from bets tied to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The accused, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a Special Forces master sergeant, is said to have been directly involved in planning and executing the January operation that led to Maduro’s arrest. Prosecutors allege that he exploited this insider knowledge to place a series of wagers on future events related to the mission.
According to investigators, Van Dyke placed multiple bets on an online prediction platform in late December 2025 and early January 2026, anticipating outcomes such as U.S. military action in Venezuela and Maduro’s removal from power. These bets reportedly generated profits of approximately $409,000.
Authorities say the soldier used nonpublic and classified information obtained through his role in the operation, a move described as a serious breach of trust and national security. He now faces charges including wire fraud, commodities fraud, theft of government information, and unlawful financial transactions.
Further allegations suggest he attempted to conceal his actions by using virtual private networks (VPNs), altering account details, and transferring funds through cryptocurrency accounts.
The case is believed to be one of the first major prosecutions involving insider trading linked to prediction markets, raising broader concerns about the misuse of sensitive government information for financial gain.
U.S. officials have emphasised that military personnel are strictly prohibited from using classified intelligence for personal profit, warning that such actions undermine national security and public trust.
