The other life of US soldier accused of betting on Maduro's removal

April 28, 2026

Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a US Army Special Forces soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has been charged with using classified information about a covert military operation to profit through online betting. Federal prosecutors allege that Van Dyke, who participated in planning and executing the January operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, placed approximately $34,000 in bets on Polymarket predicting the timing and outcome of Maduro's removal. The soldier allegedly cashed out over $400,000 in winnings and attempted to hide his identity by transferring funds to foreign cryptocurrency accounts after media attention highlighted the suspicious betting activity.

Who is affected

Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke (the accused soldier)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores (captured individuals)
The US military and Special Forces command at Fort Bragg
Polymarket platform and its users
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (bringing civil charges)
Federal prosecutors and the Department of Justice
Van Dyke's wife and family members
Van Dyke's real estate tenants and Airbnb guests

What action is being taken

Van Dyke faces federal criminal charges including unlawful use of confidential government information, theft of non-public information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making unlawful monetary transactions
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is pursuing a separate lawsuit accusing Van Dyke of insider trading
Federal investigators are examining Van Dyke's betting history and financial transactions
Van Dyke is scheduled for arraignment in a New York federal courthouse on Tuesday

Why it matters

This case highlights serious national security concerns about military personnel with access to classified operations exploiting that information for personal financial gain, which undermines the trust placed in those handling sensitive government intelligence. The incident exposes vulnerabilities in cryptocurrency-based prediction markets like Polymarket, where blockchain anonymity can facilitate illegal insider trading that is difficult to detect and regulate. The case raises broader questions about how government officials and military personnel with access to non-public information might abuse their positions, particularly as prediction markets become more popular and sophisticated.

What's next

Van Dyke is due to be arraigned (formally charged) in a New York federal courthouse on Tuesday, according to US media reports.

Read full article from source: BBC