Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that they have indicted an Army Master Sergeant on charges of exploiting classified military intelligence to earn $400,000 through online gambling on Venezuelan President Maduro’s potential arrest.
Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyk allegedly leveraged his privileged access to sensitive government information while participating in operations targeting Maduro this past January, according to federal prosecutors in New York. Van Dyk then reportedly used this insider knowledge to place lucrative bets on the Polymarket prediction platform.
Court documents reveal that Van Dyk served as a senior enlisted member within the special operations community, based at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. However, the indictment provides limited additional information regarding his specific military background and duties.
The charges against Van Dyk include illegal exploitation of confidential government data for financial benefit, stealing non-public government intelligence, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and conducting prohibited financial transactions.
When contacted for comment, Pentagon officials directed inquiries to both Army leadership and the Department of Justice. US Special Operations Command has not yet provided a response to media requests.
According to the indictment, Van Dyk enlisted in the Army in 2008 and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant in 2023, which represents the second-highest enlisted position within Army hierarchy.
