An incredible espionage and financial case came to light, starring a non-commissioned officer of the US special forces. 38-year-old Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke is accused of using classified military information to bet on the Polymarket platform, making more than $400,000 in profits from his capture operation in Venezuela.
The Chronicle of Betrayal and the Stakes
Van Dyke, who was stationed at Fort Bragg and was involved in the direct planning of the operation, seems to have seen the mission as a golden opportunity to get rich. According to the indictment, the non-commissioned officer placed 13 different bets on Maduro’s fate.
The most provocative move came on January 2, just hours before US forces stormed Caracas, when he bet thousands of dollars on the prediction that Maduro would be out of power by the end of the month. A day later, the Venezuelan leader was arrested and the soldier saw his account skyrocket.
Van Dyke faces five felony counts, including: Unlawful use of classified government information, wire fraud, theft of non-public government data and money laundering.
The photo that betrayed him and cryptocurrency
Van Dyke’s attempt to cover his tracks was persistent, but unsuccessful. He transferred his earnings through cryptocurrencies before depositing them in a stock exchange account.
However, authorities found a photo on his Google account taken aboard the USS Iwo Jima on the morning of his arrest, showing him fully clothed and armed as Maduro was taken into custody
Reactions from the White House and Justice
The case has sent shockwaves through Washington, with President Trump expressing dismay. “The whole world, unfortunately, has become something like a casino. I don’t like that idea at all.”
For its part, the Department of Justice clarified that uniformed officers handling classified information are strictly prohibited from using it for personal gain.
