A special forces soldier involved in the operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been indicted by the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly making bets on the prediction market Polymarket about Maduro’s removal and profiting upwards of $400,000. Authorities claim Gannon Ken Van Dyke, part of Operation Absolute Resolve, wagered on whether the U.S. would deploy forces into Venezuela and remove Maduro. Van Dyke was arrested on Thursday, according to CBS, with officials stating his bets were informed by classified information accessible to him as a government insider. He allegedly violated nondisclosure agreements by making 13 bets between December 27, 2025, and January 26, 2026, totaling $33,034, on predictions like “U.S. Forces in Venezuela” and “Maduro out by January 31, 2026.” Van Dyke faces charges including violating the Commodity Exchange Act, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that military personnel are trusted with sensitive information only to accomplish their mission and are banned from using this information for personal gain. Prediction markets, despite controversy, have gained prominence recently, sparking legislative discussions about banning public officials from using nonpublic information for betting.
Special Forces Soldier Arrested for Allegedly Earning $400K on Polymarket Bet Related to Maduro Operation
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