Us Soldier Arrested For Allegedly Making Over $400,000 On Polymarket With Classified Maduro Information

United States worker Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been arrested and charged for placing bets connected prediction marketplace Polymarket utilizing classified accusation he had entree to related to nan seizure of erstwhile Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The US Army Special Forces maestro sergeant, who was straight progressive pinch nan readying and execution of nan operation, allegedly made $409,881 successful profits.

According to nan Department of Justice, Van Dyke created a Polymarket relationship astir December 26, 2025 and made 13 bets related to Maduro from December 27 to January 2. He took nan “Yes” position connected respective Polymarket wagers, including “US Forces successful Venezuela… by January 31, 2026,” “Maduro retired by… January 31, 2026, “Will nan US invade Venezuela by January 31” and “Trump invokes War Powers against Venezuela by… January 31.” The US subject captured Maduro and his woman connected January 3.

Van Dyke allegedly stake a full of $33,034 and made complete 10 times that magnitude from his winnings. He withdrew his money from Polymarket connected nan time Maduro was captured and past sent it to a overseas crypto vault earlier depositing it to a caller online brokerage account.

Shortly aft Maduro’s capture, reports came retired astir really an anonymous gambler made almost half a cardinal dollars earlier it was announced, raising concerns that personification had profited disconnected insider subject knowledge. The Justice Department says Van Dyke tried to screen his tracks. After reports astir nan imaginable insider bets were published, he allegedly asked Polymarket to delete his account, falsely claiming that he mislaid entree to nan email he used. He besides changed nan email reside linked to his crypto relationship to different 1 not associated pinch his name.

Van Dyke has been charged pinch 3 counts of usurpation against nan Commodity Exchange Act, pinch each 1 carrying a max condemnation of 10 years successful prison. He has besides been charged pinch 1 count of ligament fraud pinch a max punishment of 20 years successful prison, arsenic good arsenic 1 count of unlawful monetary transaction pinch a max condemnation of 10 years.

Prediction marketplaces person been struggling pinch insider trading problems, and this is acold from nan first incident. Recently, Kalshi took action against 3 governmental candidates, accusing them of insider trading related to their campaigns. Matt Klein of Minnesota and Ezekiel Enriquez of Texas look a good of little than $1,000 and suspensions of up to 5 years. Meanwhile Mark Moran of Virginia faces disciplinary action, a 5 twelvemonth suspension and a good of much than $6,000.