US Soldier Charged with Betting on Maduro Capture Using Classified Info

A US soldier is accused of using classified information about the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela to place bets and earn over $400,000, according to a report by the New York Times.

Special Forces Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly placed bets on the Polymarket platform, relying on confidential data he knew due to his involvement in planning the operation. Authorities claim he wagered more than $33,000 on scenarios related to Maduro's removal from power.

Following the successful operation in early January 2026, the bets yielded profits exceeding $400,000. Van Dyke allegedly transferred the profits to foreign cryptocurrency accounts and attempted to erase his tracks.

Federal prosecutor Jay Clayton stated that the soldier used confidential information for personal gain. The White House had issued a warning to avoid trading based on insider information.

Hours before Maduro's arrest on January 3, a Polymarket user bet $32,000 that the Venezuelan president would lose power, yielding profits of over $400,000.