Soldier Charged With Betting on Maduro Using Classified Intel

A U.S. Army special forces soldier named Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been arrested and charged by the Justice Department for allegedly making more than $400,000 by betting on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro using classified government information. The soldier participated in the planning and execution of the January operation that resulted in Maduro's capture, which President Trump announced on January 3 via Truth Social. Federal investigators allege that Van Dyke placed bets totaling more than $33,000 on the Polymarket prediction market within hours of Trump's announcement, including a $32,537 wager on Maduro being removed from power by January 31, 2026, along with additional bets on U.S. military actions against Venezuela. The charges against Van Dyke include unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction. According to the Justice Department, the soldier allegedly wagered on Polymarket using sensitive classified information obtained through his role in the operation. The Justice Department stated that military personnel are trusted with classified information solely to accomplish their missions safely and effectively, and are strictly prohibited from leveraging such information for personal financial enrichment. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the seriousness of the breach of trust, stating that the DOJ will pursue accountability for those who exploit classified information for personal profit. The investigation into Van Dyke's activities reportedly began after the prediction market Polymarket detected the unusual betting patterns associated with his account, triggering a months-long federal inquiry that culminated in his arrest and federal charges.