US soldier accused of betting on Maduro's removal pleads not guilty to fraud charges

BBC NEWS

April 28, 2026 1 min read

The US special forces soldier who made thousands of dollars betting on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has pleaded not guilty to charges that he used classified information to profit.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, was arraigned in New York federal court on Tuesday after being accused last week of betting on Maduro's January capture before the information was publicly available.

The US government contends that he allegedly made trades on Polymarket, a crypto-powered platform, on the basis of classified information, winning more than $400,000 (£296,000).

A federal judge released him on a $250,000 bond and ordered that he surrender his passport and restrict his travel.

Van Dyke, clad in a dark suit with a black shirt to match, sat at the defence table alongside his team - which now included the high-profile attorney Mark Geragos.

Asked by the judge to enter a plea, Van Dyke responded: "Not guilty, your honour."

Van Dyke was on leave from the military, according to another one of his lawyers. He would remain under court supervision in North Carolina, the judge said, and could only travel to parts of North Carolina, New York, and California.