US Soldier Charged After Allegedly Winning $400,000 Betting on Maduro’s Removal
A US special forces soldier has been arrested after allegedly making over $400,000 in profits from bets linked to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, based on classified information not yet public.
According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the soldier, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke, is accused of insider trading after placing bets on a crypto prediction platform tied to the outcome of a covert military operation.
Officials allege Van Dyke used nonpublic intelligence connected to a classified mission known as “Operation Absolute Resolve,” which reportedly involved the capture of Maduro during a US-led operation.
The DOJ says Van Dyke earned approximately $409,000 (£303,702) after betting on the timing and outcome of the mission while still in possession of sensitive classified information.
He is accused of using a trading account on prediction platform Polymarket, where he allegedly made trades involving Venezuela-related events before details of the operation were publicly known.
Prosecutors say the soldier, who was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, violated multiple federal laws, including fraud, theft of government information, and unlawful use of classified intelligence for personal financial gain.
The DOJ stressed that members of the military are strictly prohibited from using classified information for personal profit, particularly information tied to active operations.
The case has also drawn attention to the growing role of prediction markets in global finance, with officials warning that such platforms can be vulnerable to misuse when sensitive information is involved.
The accused has not yet publicly entered a plea, while investigations into the broader operation and potential leaks continue.
