Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke Army Special Forces, Arrested for Insider

A high-profile federal case has emerged involving U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who has been arrested and charged with using classified military intelligence to profit from prediction market bets tied to a covert operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Van Dyke was involved in planning and executing a classified mission known as “Operation Absolute Resolve,” which led to the capture of Maduro in January 2026. Prosecutors allege that he later used nonpublic information from the operation to place bets on the online prediction platform Polymarket.

Between late December 2025 and early January 2026, Van Dyke reportedly placed approximately $33,000 in wagers on outcomes related to U.S. military action in Venezuela and Maduro’s removal from power. Authorities say these trades were directly informed by sensitive intelligence that was not available to the public at the time.

Federal filings indicate that his bets resulted in profits of roughly $400,000. Prosecutors also allege that after receiving winnings, he attempted to conceal his identity by using a VPN, transferring funds through cryptocurrency accounts, and requesting deletion of his trading profile.

Van Dyke now faces multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, commodities fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and theft or misuse of government information. Officials have emphasized that military personnel are strictly prohibited from using classified intelligence for personal financial gain.

The case has drawn significant attention because it represents one of the first major prosecutions involving alleged insider trading on a prediction market platform, raising broader questions about regulation and oversight in emerging digital betting markets.

Multiple federal agencies, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), are also involved in parallel civil actions, and Polymarket has stated that it cooperated fully with investigators.

If convicted, Van Dyke could face decades in federal prison.