A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier has been charged by federal authorities with using classified intelligence tied to the operation that led to Nicolás Maduro’s capture to generate more than $400,000 in profits through prediction market bets. The case, which centers on alleged misuse of sensitive government information, is being described by prosecutors as a rare instance of insider trading involving a geopolitical event.
According to the Justice Department, Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, was directly involved in planning the operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture on January 3. In the weeks leading up to that event, investigators allege that Van Dyke placed a series of wagers on the prediction market platform Polymarket, betting that U.S. forces would enter Venezuela and that Maduro would be removed from power. Authorities say those wagers were informed by nonpublic, classified intelligence tied to the mission.
A federal grand jury in Manhattan indicted Van Dyke on multiple charges, including unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and conducting an unlawful monetary transaction. Prosecutors contend that the bets were carefully timed and directly linked to privileged knowledge of the operation’s planning and execution.
The Justice Department indicated that the case may represent the first time insider trading charges have been brought in connection with activity on a prediction market platform. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, stating that members of the military are entrusted with classified information strictly for operational purposes and are prohibited from exploiting that information for financial gain. “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain,” Blanche said.
Additional details outlined by prosecutors allege that Van Dyke attempted to conceal his actions after securing the profits. Authorities say he transferred most of the proceeds to a foreign cryptocurrency account and later requested that Polymarket delete his account, actions that prosecutors argue demonstrate an effort to obscure the origin and nature of the transactions.
Van Dyke, who had been stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, is expected to appear before a federal judge. Information regarding his legal representation was not immediately available. The Pentagon declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Justice Department.
The case also drew a brief response from President Donald Trump, who said he was not familiar with the details but compared the situation to a well-known sports gambling controversy. “That’s like Pete Rose betting on his own team,” Trump said. “If he bet against his team, that would be no good, but he bet on his own team. I’ll look into it.”
Polymarket confirmed in a public statement that it had referred the matter to federal authorities. “Insider trading has no place on Polymarket. Today’s arrest is proof the system works,” the company said.
The charges highlight the intersection of military operations, financial markets, and emerging prediction platforms, raising questions about how classified intelligence can be safeguarded in an era where geopolitical outcomes can be monetized in real time. Federal prosecutors have indicated they intend to pursue the case as part of broader efforts to enforce laws governing the misuse of sensitive government information.