BY MIRABEL ODETA
A U.S. Army soldier involved in the capture of Nicolas Maduro has been charged with making more than $400,000 by betting on the removal of the Venezuelan leader, authorities said.
According to prosecutors, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a 38-year-old master sergeant with U.S. Army Special Forces, used sensitive classified information in the weeks leading up to Maduro’s January 3 capture. He allegedly placed a series of wagers predicting that U.S. forces would enter Venezuela and that Maduro would be removed from power.
A grand jury in Manhattan federal court indicted Van Dyke on multiple charges, including unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and conducting an unlawful monetary transaction.
Officials described the case as a rare and significant example of insider misconduct tied to emerging financial platforms, highlighting concerns about how classified information can be exploited for profit.
“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,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Van Dyke is expected to appear before a judge in North Carolina. Information about his legal representation has not yet been made public.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the case.
President Donald Trump, when asked about the arrest, said he was not familiar with the details but compared the situation to a well-known sports betting scandal involving Pete Rose, who was banned from professional baseball for gambling.
Authorities say Van Dyke played a direct role in the planning and execution of the operation that led to Maduro’s capture, though specific operational details have not been disclosed. Prosecutors noted that he uploaded a photograph to his personal account in the early hours following the mission, appearing to show him aboard a military vessel at sea alongside other armed personnel.
In addition to the criminal case, regulators have also filed civil charges against Van Dyke.
The case raises broader concerns about the misuse of sensitive government information and the responsibilities placed on individuals with access to classified material, particularly in high-stakes military operations.
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