Soldier Bets on Secret Missions, Faces 30 Years

It's April 24th.

California News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready.

I'm Cory with the story.

A Fort Bragg soldier named Ganon Ken Van Dyke just faced federal court on charges for

leaking classified info to score big on online bets.

Prosecutors say he was on a secret team that planned a Venezuela raid capturing Nicolas

Maduro, and he used that edge to rake in over 400, $1,000 on the prediction site, Polly

He placed those bets knowing the military's exact moves, then tried shifting the cash into

cryptocurrency to cover his tracks.

This all stems from a sealed indictment dropped by the Justice Department, hitting him with

serious violations.

In court Friday, Van Dyke showed up shackled at hands and feet, confirmed he got the

charges, and asked for a court appointed lawyer.

No big albers, just straight business as the penalties loomed large.

He's hit with three counts under the Commodity Exchange Act, each up to 10 years, plus

one wire fraud charge that could mean 20 years behind.

Spars He skipped an identity hearing, posted a $250,000 unsecured bond, but with tight rules,

no passport, limited travel to parts.

Of North Carolina and New York, no guns except on duty.

Van Dyke got handed to marshals for processing and should walk free soon under those terms

with his next stop in New York court on April 28th.

Cases like this remind us how thin the line is between intel and illegal gains in the

betting world.