A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who helped plan and execute the daring raid to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has been indicted for allegedly turning top-secret military information into a personal windfall on the Polymarket prediction platform.
Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, faces five federal charges after authorities say he used his direct involvement in “Operation Absolute Resolve” to make more than $409,000 in illegal profits.
According to the Justice Department indictment unsealed Thursday in Manhattan federal court, Van Dyke — a veteran with access to highly classified material — created a Polymarket account in late December 2025 and placed 13 strategic bets on Venezuela-related outcomes.
He wagered a total of about $33,034 on “YES” contracts predicting U.S. forces in Venezuela by January 31, Maduro being removed from power by the same date, a U.S. invasion, and President Trump invoking war powers — all while possessing nonpublic details about the upcoming raid.
In the predawn hours of January 3, U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife at a residence in Caracas. Hours later, after the successful operation was announced, Polymarket resolved the contracts in Van Dyke’s favor, delivering him massive winnings.
Prosecutors say he quickly tried to cover his tracks: moving most of the money through a foreign cryptocurrency vault into a new brokerage account, then asking Polymarket to delete his account with a false claim about losing email access.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered a strong message: “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information… and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain.”
FBI Director Kash Patel added that “no one is above the law,” while U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton called it clear insider trading that betrayed the trust placed in those who safeguard America’s secrets.
Van Dyke, who signed multiple nondisclosure agreements promising never to divulge classified details, now faces serious prison time: up to 10 years on each commodities fraud count, 20 years for wire fraud, and additional penalties.
The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett, highlights growing concerns over prediction markets like Polymarket, where real-world events — including sensitive military operations — can be turned into high-stakes gambling.
Polymarket has cooperated with investigators, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed civil charges seeking to bar Van Dyke from future trading and recover the profits.
This stunning breach of trust comes as federal authorities warn that the explosion of prediction markets creates new national security risks for anyone with access to classified information.
Van Dyke is scheduled to appear in federal court as the case moves forward — a stark reminder that even elite soldiers sworn to protect the nation can face swift justice when they put personal profit above duty.