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The other life of US soldier accused of betting on Maduro's removal
TL;DR
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a US special forces soldier, is accused of betting over $400,000 on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He allegedly used classified knowledge to facilitate these bets while managing a property business.
Key points
- Gannon Ken Van Dyke is a US special forces soldier.
- He is accused of betting over $400,000 on Maduro's removal.
- Van Dyke allegedly used classified knowledge for these bets.
- He managed a property company and an Airbnb cottage.
- The indictment was unsealed last week.
Mentioned in this story
Gannon Ken Van DykeNicolás MaduroUS Army
Special forces soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been a busy man in recent years - both in and out of uniform.
He rose to the rank of master sergeant at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he signed non-disclosure agreements to deal with classified operations, including - prosecutors allege - his role in the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January.
He set up a property company and bought at least six homes, overseeing long-term tenants and responding promptly to guests at his Airbnb cottage - a mountain retreat he called Daddy Bear Cave, complete with stylish finishes and rave reviews.
And, according to federal charging papers, Van Dyke also used his knowledge of top-secret operations to trade on Polymarket, allegedly cashing out more than $400,000 (£296,000) after betting on Maduro's removal. The removal involved a covert military operation which prosecutors allege that Van Dyke helped plan and execute within the US military.
Between 27 December and 2 January, the US Army officer purchased about $33,934 worth of bets related to Maduro and Venezuela, the indictment unsealed last week says.
The bets predicted when US forces would go into Venezuela and when Maduro would be unseated, among others, according to the filing.
Van Dyke faces charges of unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of non-public government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.
He is due to be arraigned - or formally charged - in a New York federal courthouse on Tuesday, US media report.
In a separate lawsuit brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, an independent US federal agency, he is also accused of insider trading.
Van Dyke has been an active duty soldier in the US since 2008 and has been a master sergeant with the US Army Special Forces since 2023, according to the indictment.
In his time at Fort Bragg, he was trained for special operations. As part of his command, Van Dyke signed a non-disclosure agreement in September 2018 acknowledging that the US government placed "special confidence and trust" in him. He promised to "never divulge anything" marked as "sensitive" information or even that he knew such information.
The federal court filing does not set out in detail Van Dyke's day-to-day duties or his exact role in the Maduro operation, which included air strikes, a network of on-the-ground spies and a massive military presence that had been built up over months in the region.
Outside his role in the military, Van Dyke was also an ambitious businessman, his social media profile and that of his wife reveal.
On Instagram, the soldier makes no mention of his military life. Alongside a shirtless profile photo, he describes himself in his bio as a father and "Fayetteville NC based real estate investor".
On LinkedIn, he lists himself as owner of Better Homes NC LLC, registered in 2022, and his profile photo is the company logo.
Q&A
What are the allegations against Gannon Ken Van Dyke?
Gannon Ken Van Dyke is accused of using his military knowledge to bet on the removal of Nicolás Maduro, allegedly cashing out over $400,000 from these bets.
How much did Van Dyke bet on Maduro's removal?
Van Dyke purchased approximately $33,934 worth of bets related to Nicolás Maduro and Venezuela between December 27 and January 2.
What role did Van Dyke play in the operation against Maduro?
Prosecutors allege that Van Dyke helped plan and execute a covert military operation aimed at the seizure of Nicolás Maduro.
What is Van Dyke's background in the military?
Gannon Ken Van Dyke is a master sergeant in the US Army, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he has signed non-disclosure agreements for classified operations.
