U.S. Soldier Accused Of Making $400K Betting With Classified Maduro Intel
on Apr 24, 2026
The DOJ Has Charged The Special Forces Soldier Who Allegedly Was Involved In The Planning Of The Venezuela Assault
Back on Jan. 3, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested by U.S. Special Forces troops in an armed land strike in Caracas, Venezuela.
This came after months of tension between the United States and Maduro’s regime, with the United States Navy conducting a blockade off the coast of Venezuela — not unlike President Donald Trump‘s current course of action against Iran.
Presently, Maduro is being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he is awaiting a trial after pleading “not guilty” to charges of narco-terrorism as well as other drug and weapons charges.
However, before Maduro had been captured, someone within the U.S. military allegedly prepared to profit on his arrest… and did so, to the tune of over $400,000.
According to the Department of Justice, which leveled five charges against U.S. Special Forces Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke on Thursday, April 23, “Rather than safeguard that information as he was obligated to do, Van Dyke decided to use that classified information to place trades on a prediction market platform for his personal
profit.”
The DOJ adds that doing so was illegal, and alleges that Van Dyke was aware of this, claiming he “tried to conceal his unlawful use of classified U.S. Government
information by attempting to obscure the source of his unlawful proceeds and to disguise his connection to the accounts linked to the illicit trades.”
In all, Van Dyke is accused of earning approximately $409,881 from his wagers.
RELATED: Trump Announces U.S. Will “Run” Venezuela Following Capture Of President Maduro
The Charges Leveled Against Special Forces Master Sgt. Van Dyke
In the Department of Justice’s indictment against Van Dyke, there were five central charges.
The five charges are, as follows:
Unlawful Use of Confidential Government Information for Personal Gain — Starting on Dec. 8, 2025, Van Dyke is said to have had access to information regarding the planning of Operation Absolute Resolve, which led to the arrest of Maduro. Bets allegedly made by Van Dyke were made on Polymarket, with Van Dyke wagering $33,034 on the chance that Maduro would be arrested prior to Jan. 31, 2026.
Theft of Nonpublic Government Information — Here, the DOJ argues that the intel used by Van Dyke was used “in reckless disregard of the fact, that such information had not been disseminated by the department and agency of the Federal Government holding and creating the information … in a manner which made it generally available to the trading public.”
Commodities Fraud — This charge is directed at Van Dyke’s alleged method of not disclosing his access to insider information regarding Operation Absolute Resolve.
Wire Fraud — The fourth count against Van Dyke alleges he used classified military intelligence “to execute and cause others to execute commodities transactions to
obtain money in breach of his duties.”
Engaging in a Monetary Transaction in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity — The final charge against Van Dyke points to his attempt to receive a monetary charge over $10,000 by nefarious means.
It is noted in the indictment that Van Dyke “took steps to conceal his identity as the trader in the Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets” on Polymarket, allegedly reaching out to Polymarket on Jan. 6 — after the raid — that he no longer had access to his email account.
From there, he then allegedly had the funds wired to an account that was created on Dec. 14, 2025, which was not associated with his identity.
Giving comment on the indictment, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is filling in after Pam Bondi’s termination, stated, “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain.”
Blanche added, “Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply.”
Similarly, FBI Director Kash Patel said, “Today’s announcement makes clear no one is above the law, and this FBI will do whatever it takes to defend the homeland and safeguard our nation’s secrets. Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable.”
On X, Patel went on to describe the operation in Venezuela as “righteous,” saying:
This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 23, 2026
Thank you to our agents, Intel teams, and great partners @TheJusticeDept who protected our war fighters.
Investigation ongoing. https://t.co/Adn4K19r3J
Read the full DOJ indictment against Van Dyke, here.
There Were Heroes In The Venezuelan Assault, Too
Notably, while Van Dyke is accused of committing a crime by allegedly gambling on the outcome and timing of the Maduro raid with classified military intelligence, there were heroes that day, too.
During President Trump’s State of the Union Address on Feb. 24, one of the helicopter pilots in the Jan. 3 Operation Absolute Resolve, Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover, was awarded the Medal Of Honor.
Slover was hit in the leg, taking four bullets that “shredded his leg into numerous pieces,” Trump said, adding, “Even as he was gushing blood … [Slover] maneuvered his helicopter with all of those lives and souls to face the enemy and let his gunners eliminate the threat.”
It was only after they had landed that Slover told the co-pilot to take over.
Watch Slover receive the Medal of Honor, here:
