US soldier charged with insider betting on Maduro capture

Gannon Ken Van Dyk, a soldier in the US Army, faces charges for allegedly utilizing classified information to secure $400,000 on the prediction market Polymarket by wagering on the apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In January, Van Dyk participated in a special forces mission aimed at capturing Maduro, which granted him access to sensitive information. Stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he is charged with several offenses, including the illegal use of confidential government data, theft of nonpublic information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and conducting an unlawful monetary transaction. The indictment reveals that Van Dyk was photographed in military fatigues on a ship's deck post-raid, having been involved in the planning and execution of the operation since December 8, 2025, despite signing nondisclosure agreements.