US soldier accused of using classified intel to bet on Maduro operation
A US Army soldier has been charged with allegedly using classified information to place bets on an online prediction platform related to a US operation targeting Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, the Department of Justice said.
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, is accused of making more than $400,000 through wagers on Polymarket by predicting outcomes tied to US military actions in Caracas—an operation he was reportedly involved in planning and executing.
According to officials, the US military carried out strikes on Caracas on January 3, detaining Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transferring them to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the case highlights a serious breach of trust. “Service members are entrusted with classified information to carry out their duties and are strictly prohibited from using it for personal financial gain,” he said.
Polymarket stated it had flagged the suspicious account to authorities and cooperated fully with the investigation, adding that “insider trading has no place” on the platform.
Van Dyke faces multiple charges, including wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and violations of the Commodity Exchange Act. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 50 years in prison.
The case is the latest involving alleged misuse of insider information tied to geopolitical events. Earlier this year, several accounts reportedly made significant profits by betting on a US strike against Iran, though no arrests have been made in that instance.
The incident has also fueled broader debate in Washington over conflicts of interest and financial activity linked to political developments.