The U.S. Department of Justice has arrested Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a member of the Army Special Forces, following allegations that he placed bets on a military operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, accuses Van Dyke of using confidential government information to profit from his wagers.
According to the DOJ, Van Dyke allegedly placed $33,000 in bets on Polymarket, a prediction market platform, between December 26, 2025, and January 2, 2026. These bets concerned various scenarios related to the U.S. military’s actions in Venezuela, including the timing of a potential raid and the removal of Maduro. Following the operation, he reportedly earned approximately $400,000.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized the severity of the allegations, stating, “The defendant allegedly violated the trust placed in him by the United States Government by using classified information about a sensitive military operation to place bets on the timing and outcome of that very operation, all to turn a profit.” He characterized the actions as clear insider trading, which is illegal under federal law.
In addition to the criminal charges, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is pursuing a separate insider trading complaint against Van Dyke. CFTC Chairman Mike Selig remarked that the defendant’s actions not only breached trust but also jeopardized national security and put American service members at risk.
Van Dyke, who was stationed at Fort Bragg, was reportedly involved in both the planning and execution of the operation to detain Maduro. After the raid, he allegedly transferred his winnings into a cryptocurrency account and began moving funds into a brokerage account, an action that raised suspicions.
Reports indicate that news organizations became aware of the significant profits made from these bets, prompting Van Dyke to request the deletion of his Polymarket account and change his email to obscure his identity. In a statement, Polymarket confirmed that they referred the matter to the DOJ upon recognizing the suspicious activity.
President Donald Trump commented on the situation, expressing concern over the use of confidential information for betting purposes. He remarked, “The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino,” indicating his disapproval of such practices.
Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been arrested for allegedly using insider information to place bets on a military operation against Nicolas Maduro, resulting in significant profits. The case raises serious concerns about national security and the integrity of military operations.