U.S. Army Soldier Charged in $400K Insider Betting Scheme on Maduro Capture

A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier has been charged by the Justice Department for allegedly using classified information to profit from bets on the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. According to federal prosecutors, Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, earned approximately $400,000 through wagers placed on the prediction market platform Polymarket ahead of Maduro’s reported removal from power on January 3.

Authorities say Van Dyke leveraged sensitive, nonpublic government intelligence in the weeks leading up to the operation. He allegedly bet on outcomes including U.S. military involvement in Venezuela and Maduro’s ousting. A grand jury in Manhattan federal court indicted him on multiple charges, including misuse of confidential information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, theft of government data, and unlawful financial transactions.

The case is notable as it may represent the first time U.S. prosecutors have pursued insider trading-style charges tied to a prediction market. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that military personnel are strictly prohibited from exploiting classified information for personal financial gain, highlighting the seriousness of the alleged misconduct.

Polymarket confirmed it cooperated with investigators and referred the suspicious activity to the Justice Department. In a public statement, the platform reiterated its stance against insider trading, calling the arrest evidence that oversight systems are functioning effectively.

Van Dyke, who has served in the Army since 2008 and was most recently stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is also facing civil charges from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Prosecutors allege he played a role in planning and executing the operation involving Maduro’s capture, though details remain limited.

The indictment references a photo uploaded to Van Dyke’s Google account shortly after Maduro was taken to the USS Iwo Jima. The image reportedly shows him armed and in uniform aboard a naval vessel.

The case underscores growing scrutiny of prediction markets, insider trading risks, and the misuse of classified military intelligence in financial activities.