US soldier charged over betting on Maduro removal plot

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a US Army Special Forces master sergeant, has been charged with unlawfully using confidential information for personal gain related to a covert operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Van Dyke allegedly placed bets on the timing of military actions and Maduro's removal, using insider knowledge from his involvement in the operation.

He faces multiple federal charges including unlawful use of confidential government information, theft of non-public information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

The charges stem from Van Dyke's role in a covert military operation conducted in early January aimed at seizing Maduro, which prosecutors say he helped plan and execute while serving at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Between December 27 and January 2, Van Dyke reportedly purchased approximately $33,934 worth of bets predicting when US forces would enter Venezuela and when Maduro would be unseated.

In addition to criminal charges, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a separate lawsuit accusing him of insider trading.

Van Dyke has served in the US Army since 2008 and attained the rank of master sergeant in the Special Forces by 2023.

He signed non-disclosure agreements acknowledging the sensitive nature of his work and promising not to disclose classified information.

The indictment does not provide detailed information about Van Dyke's specific duties or his exact role in the Maduro operation, which reportedly included air strikes.

He was due to be arraigned in a New York federal courthouse on Tuesday.

The case highlights concerns about the misuse of classified information by military personnel and raises questions about operational security in covert missions.

It remains unclear how the investigation will proceed and what further legal actions may be taken against Van Dyke or others involved.

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