US Special Forces Soldier Arrested For $400,000 Bet On Maduro Capture Operation

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 05:27 IST

US Army Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke is charged with using classified intel on the US raid capturing Nicolás Maduro to place prediction market bets.

A US Army Special Forces soldier has been arrested and charged with using classified information from a covert military operation targeting Nicolás Maduro to place high-stakes bets and earn illicit profits, according to reports.

Federal prosecutors allege that the soldier, identified as Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, exploited sensitive intelligence related to the US raid that led to Maduro’s capture earlier this year. The operation, carried out by elite US forces, resulted in Maduro being taken into custody and transferred to the United States to face criminal charges.

According to investigators, Van Dyke placed bets on a prediction market platform using insider knowledge about the timing and outcome of the mission. Authorities say he wagered tens of thousands of dollars and ultimately made around $400,000 after the operation succeeded.

Prosecutors said the soldier attempted to conceal his activities by routing funds through cryptocurrency accounts and trying to erase his digital footprint. He now faces multiple charges, including wire fraud, commodities fraud, and theft of government information.

The case marks one of the first known instances of alleged insider trading linked to prediction markets, raising concerns over the misuse of classified military intelligence for personal financial gain.

US officials stressed that individuals with access to sensitive national security information are bound by strict legal obligations, warning that violations will be prosecuted aggressively.

The arrest comes months after the high-profile US operation in Venezuela, which significantly escalated tensions in the region and drew international scrutiny over Washington’s actions.

Investigations into the case are ongoing.

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