US Soldier Charged with Using Classified Intel for $400K Bet on Maduro Raid
Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly used classified information about the mission to win bets on prediction market.
Federal officials have charged a US soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with using classified information about the mission to win more than $400,000 in an online betting market.
The incident took place at the end of 2025 and early 2026, when Van Dyke was part of the planning and execution phase of capturing Maduro.
According to the federal prosecutor’s office in New York, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account towards the end of December 2025 and made approximately 13 bets that predicted various aspects of the mission.
These included the presence of US forces in Venezuela and the outcome of the operation by January 31, 2026.
Van Dyke, who was stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, had signed non-disclosure agreements promising not to divulge any classified or sensitive information related to the operations.
He faces charges of unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.
The Pentagon referred further inquiries on the case to the Army and the Department of Justice.
The case highlights the serious consequences of mishandling classified information.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that no one is above the law in such matters.
Van Dyke's actions demonstrate how individuals entrusted with sensitive information can face severe legal repercussions if they abuse their access for personal gain.