A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier accused of exploiting classified intelligence to profit from prediction market bets tied to the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges, as the high-profile case raises serious concerns about national security breaches and insider misconduct.
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, entered his plea Tuesday in a Manhattan federal court, where he faces charges including unlawful use of confidential government information, theft of nonpublic data, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and engaging in unlawful financial transactions. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett ordered his release on a $250,000 personal recognizance bond, restricting his travel to New York, North Carolina, and California.
Federal prosecutors allege that Van Dyke, an active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, used insider knowledge from a U.S. military operation targeting Maduro to place bets on the prediction platform Polymarket. According to the indictment, he wagered $33,034 between late December 2025 and January 26, 2026, generating more than $409,000 in illicit profits.
Authorities claim Van Dyke played a direct role in planning and executing the operation that led to Maduro’s capture on January 3 during a nighttime raid in Caracas. Following the mission, Maduro and his wife were reportedly transported aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
Investigators also revealed that a photograph believed to show Van Dyke in military gear aboard a naval vessel was uploaded to his Google account shortly after the operation. Prosecutors say he withdrew most of his alleged earnings the same day and later attempted to delete his Polymarket account, falsely claiming he had lost access to his email.
Van Dyke, who has served in the Army since 2008 and attained the rank of Master Sergeant in 2023, is currently on leave, with his military status described as “unsettled” by his defense attorney.
The case has drawn attention to the growing intersection of military operations and prediction markets. Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan stated that the company cooperated with authorities, emphasizing its commitment to monitoring and reporting suspicious activity.
Van Dyke is scheduled to appear in court again in June as the case moves forward.
