US Soldier Charged for Using Classified Information to Bet on Maduro's Capture

A US soldier has been charged with using classified information to place bets on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Sgt.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who was involved in a special forces operation targeting Maduro, allegedly used inside knowledge to win $400,000 on an online prediction market.

Federal prosecutors confirmed that Van Dyke participated in the planning and execution of the operation to capture Maduro, which began in December 2025.

He was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and signed nondisclosure agreements to protect sensitive information related to the mission.

Van Dyke is accused of unlawfully using confidential government information for personal financial gain.

The charges include theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

This case highlights concerns about the misuse of classified information by military personnel, especially in operations with significant geopolitical implications.

The operation to capture Maduro was a high-profile mission with potential impacts on Latin American stability.

According to the indictment, Van Dyke was photographed during the raid wearing US military fatigues and carrying a rifle alongside other soldiers.

His role in the operation gave him access to sensitive details that were not publicly available.

The prediction market where Van Dyke placed his bets is an online platform that allows users to wager on political and global events.

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