A U.S. special forces soldier has been charged with using classified military intelligence to profit from bets tied to the January 2026 operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Federal prosecutors allege that Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, earned more than $400,000 by placing wagers on the online prediction platform Polymarket using nonpublic information about the mission.
The Justice Department described the case as a significant breach of trust involving sensitive national security information.
According to court documents, Van Dyke was involved in the planning and execution of the operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, beginning in December 2025.
Prosecutors say he used his access to classified details to place a series of bets predicting outcomes such as a U.S. military presence in Venezuela and Maduro’s removal from power.
These wagers were made between late December and early January, with a concentration of activity occurring just hours before the operation began on January 3.
The mission resulted in Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, being captured, while dozens of Venezuelans and Cubans were reported killed.
Authorities allege Van Dyke used a virtual private network to conceal his location and later transferred his winnings to a foreign cryptocurrency account.
Van Dyke faces multiple charges, including commodities fraud, wire fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions, each carrying potential prison sentences of up to 20 years.
Officials said his actions endangered national security and undermined confidence in military operations.
“Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly betrayed his fellow soldiers by utilizing classified information for his own financial gain,” said an FBI official.
Polymarket stated it identified suspicious activity, alerted authorities, and cooperated with the investigation.
The case has intensified scrutiny of prediction markets, particularly as their use has expanded amid regulatory changes during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about the potential for insider trading and are considering restrictions on betting tied to military or political events.