WASHINGTON – A United States Special Forces soldier has been arrested and charged after allegedly using classified military information to make hundreds of thousands of dollars by betting on the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
According to U.S. prosecutors, the soldier—identified as Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke—used confidential knowledge from a secret military operation to place bets on an online prediction market regarding the timing and outcome of Maduro’s capture.
Authorities say the soldier placed multiple wagers in the weeks leading up to the operation, investing more than $30,000 and ultimately earning profits of around $400,000. The bets were reportedly made on a platform that allows users to speculate on real-world events.
The case centers on a covert U.S. operation carried out in early January 2026, during which Maduro was captured in Venezuela and transferred to the United States to face criminal charges. The soldier was part of the group with advance knowledge of the mission’s planning and execution.
Prosecutors allege that by using this inside information, the soldier committed multiple federal offenses, including fraud, unlawful use of classified information and illegal financial transactions. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
U.S. authorities have described the case as a serious breach of trust, emphasizing that military personnel are strictly prohibited from using sensitive information for personal financial gain.
The incident is being viewed as one of the first known cases in which classified military intelligence has been used to profit through online betting markets. It has also raised broader concerns about the rapid growth of so-called prediction markets and the potential for abuse when insider information is involved.
Investigations are ongoing, and both criminal and civil proceedings have been initiated against the suspect.