Soldier Pleads Not Guilty in Maduro Betting Case
US soldier Maduro betting charges
A U.S. Army master sergeant formally entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday in a Manhattan federal court regarding allegations that he utilized confidential intelligence to secure financial gains from the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, is accused of leveraging his position within the U.S. Army Special Forces to place wagers on the prediction market Polymarket.
Prosecutors allege that Van Dyke, who was involved in the planning and execution of the January 3, 2026, raid, used non-public information to bet on the timing of Maduro’s removal from office. The indictment asserts that the soldier placed approximately $33,000 in bets in late December 2025 and early January 2026, ultimately resulting in winnings exceeding $400,000.
This case represents the first time the U.S. Department of Justice has pursued insider trading charges specifically related to a prediction market. During the proceedings before U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, Van Dyke’s defense team, led by attorney Mark Geragos, indicated their intent to challenge the legal basis of the indictment, maintaining that his actions did not constitute a criminal offense.
The charges against the master sergeant include commodities fraud, wire fraud, theft of government information, and the unlawful use of classified data for personal gain. As the legal proceedings unfold, the Department of Defense is monitoring the situation, as Van Dyke remains technically associated with the military while on leave. You can find detailed coverage of the ongoing court proceedings at Reuters and The Guardian.
