By David Szakonyi, Michelle Kendler-Kretsch, Michael Hornsby | Analysis | September 17, 2026
In April, a United States serviceman was charged with using classified information on the January 2026 kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro to make an astonishing $400,000 from bets on prediction markets about the future of Venezuela, its leadership, and a possible US intervention. Prosecutors say the soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, helped plan the military operation and used his inside knowledge to profit from wagers considered highly unlikely at the time. He has pleaded not guilty, with a trial expected later this year.
The case underscores a new threat to national security information. Military and political leaders go to incredible lengths to prevent details of such operations from leaking to the public. Nearly every country around the world requires an arduous vetting process to obtain security clearance and closely guards access to classified information.