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Soldier Pleads Innocent After Betting on Maduro's Capture for $400,000 Profit

KVIA•Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 6:31 PM•CNN Newsource

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Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a 38-year-old active special forces soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, has pleaded not guilty to charges of misusing classified information related to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. On January 3, 2026, U.S. military forces executed a daring operation to extract Maduro from the presidential palace in Caracas, which Van Dyke allegedly used to place bets on Polymarket, netting over $400,000. He is accused of transferring his winnings to a foreign cryptocurrency vault and then to a newly created brokerage account. Following his arrest, Van Dyke was charged with multiple offenses, including fraud and illegal monetary transactions, and was released on a $250,000 bond. This case marks a significant legal precedent regarding betting on geopolitical events.

Key Details: • Van Dyke placed a $32,000 bet on U.S. involvement in Venezuela before the operation. • He was arrested on Thursday and released on a $250,000 bond. • The operation to capture Maduro occurred on January 3, 2026. • Charges include misuse of classified information and electronic fraud.

military maduro fraud geopolitics betting

People & Organizations

Donald TrumpNicolás MaduroCaracasFort BraggGannon Ken Van Dyke

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