Ask Onix
US soldier accused of profiting from classified Venezuela operation
A US Army master sergeant faces federal charges for allegedly using top-secret intelligence to place over $400,000 in bets on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, was arraigned Tuesday in New York on counts including commodities fraud and wire fraud.
Alleged insider trading on Polymarket
Prosecutors claim Van Dyke purchased $33,934 worth of prediction-market contracts between December 27 and January 2, wagering on the timing of Maduro's capture and US military intervention in Venezuela. The indictment states he used a personal email to register on Polymarket, a crypto-based betting platform, despite knowing the operation's classified details.
After Maduro's January 3 seizure-announced by then-President Donald Trump-Polymarket paid out Van Dyke's bets, netting him $409,881. Investigators allege he transferred the funds to a foreign cryptocurrency vault and later to a brokerage account, attempting to obscure the transactions.
Military career and covert role
Van Dyke, an active-duty soldier since 2008, rose to master sergeant in the US Army Special Forces in 2023. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he signed a 2018 non-disclosure agreement acknowledging his access to sensitive information. The indictment does not detail his exact role in the Venezuela operation, which involved airstrikes, ground spies, and a months-long military buildup.
"The US government placed special confidence and trust in him. He promised never to divulge sensitive information,"
2018 non-disclosure agreement
Dual life: Real estate and Airbnb
Outside the military, Van Dyke built a real estate portfolio under Better Homes NC LLC, acquiring at least six properties. His Airbnb rental, "Daddy Bear Cave," a mountain retreat with high-end finishes, earned "superhost" status and glowing reviews for his responsiveness.
Public records show he purchased a $340,000 home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, 20 days after Maduro's capture. His wife, a real estate agent, frequently posted listings online, though neither's social media mentioned his military service. Van Dyke's Instagram bio described him as a "father" and "real estate investor," omitting his Army role.
Investigation and legal fallout
Prosecutors allege Van Dyke used a VPN to mask his location while placing bets, accessing Polymarket from a foreign country. After media reported the anonymous half-million-dollar payout, he reportedly deleted his Polymarket account and changed his cryptocurrency exchange email.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a separate lawsuit accusing him of insider trading. Columbia Law School's Joshua Mitts noted Polymarket's anonymity makes it a "Wild West" for insider betting, as users are identified only by blockchain addresses.
Van Dyke's next court appearance is pending. If convicted, he faces decades in prison and forfeiture of his alleged profits.
