Nicolás Maduro was captured during a major U.S. military mission known as Operation Absolute Resolve, a carefully planned operation involving intelligence gathering and special forces deployment.
A U.S. Special Forces Master Sergeant, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, has now been arrested for allegedly exploiting classified military intelligence linked to that mission for personal financial gain.
According to prosecutors, Van Dyke is accused of placing a $32,000 wager on the outcome of the operation, ultimately earning about $400,000 after predicting that Maduro would be removed from power.
Investigators say he created an account on a prediction platform shortly before the covert mission and placed multiple high-risk bets between December and January, forecasting Maduro’s capture ahead of time.
After the operation succeeded and Maduro was extradited from Caracas to New York, Van Dyke allegedly attempted to conceal his winnings by routing the funds through a foreign cryptocurrency account before transferring them into a U.S.-based brokerage.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton described the case as a serious violation of duty, stressing that military personnel are strictly prohibited from using classified information for personal benefit.
Van Dyke is facing five criminal charges and is expected to appear in court in North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Maduro—who was apprehended during the high-profile raid—has pleaded not guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges.