Mazaj News (Web Desk) A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier has been charged with using classified government information to profit from prediction market bets linked to a secret military operation involving the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 38-year-old Gannon Ken Van Dyke from Fayetteville, North Carolina, allegedly earned more than $400,000 through trades placed on the online platform Polymarket. Prosecutors say he used sensitive details about a U.S. operation he was directly involved in to bet on outcomes related to military actions in Venezuela, including the removal of Maduro from power.
Authorities stated that Van Dyke created his trading account in late December and placed multiple wagers predicting U.S. military success in Venezuela shortly before the operation took place in early January. Officials allege that his access to non-public classified information gave him an unfair advantage in making profitable trades.
The U.S. military operation, conducted on January 3, resulted in the arrest of Maduro and his wife, who were later transferred to New York to face drug trafficking-related charges, according to the report.
The Justice Department emphasized that military personnel are strictly prohibited from using classified information for personal financial gain. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said service members are trusted with sensitive intelligence solely to carry out missions, not for private profit.
Polymarket confirmed that it detected suspicious activity, reported the user to authorities, and cooperated fully with the investigation. The platform said insider trading has no place in its system and described the arrest as evidence of enforcement working as intended.
Van Dyke now faces multiple charges, including wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, and could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.