US Soldier Faces Charges for Allegedly Gaining from Classified Intelligence in Maduro Operation

A US soldier is accused of utilizing classified information regarding a Maduro operation to place bets, reportedly earning more than $400,000 prior to his arrest.

A soldier from the United States special forces has been charged for allegedly utilizing classified information related to a military operation in Venezuela to gain financially from prediction-market bets concerning the ousting of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

The US Department of Justice reported that Gannon Ken Van Dyke, an active-duty Army soldier based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, earned over $400,000 from trades executed on Polymarket, a cryptocurrency prediction platform.

Officials claimed that Van Dyke was involved in the planning and execution of a covert mission referred to as Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in Maduro’s capture during a nighttime raid in Caracas on January 3. It was reported that he had access to sensitive, non-public information regarding the operation.

Prosecutors asserted that Van Dyke established a Polymarket account in late December 2025 and made several bets forecasting Maduro’s ousting from power prior to the information being disclosed. Officials reported that he placed approximately 13 bets amounting to over $33,000 while still possessing classified information about the operation.

The Justice Department announced that the soldier’s actions constituted the unlawful use of confidential government information for personal benefit, in addition to charges of wire fraud, commodities fraud, and illegal monetary transactions.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that military personnel are explicitly forbidden from utilizing classified intelligence for personal financial gain, asserting that such information is entrusted exclusively for the effectiveness of missions and the security of the nation.

US Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized that prediction markets should not serve as “a haven” for the exploitation of non-public government information.

Prosecutors stated that Van Dyke had signed nondisclosure agreements that prohibited him from disclosing or misusing any classified operational details.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has also initiated a separate civil complaint, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding insider trading in emerging digital prediction markets.

Polymarket has confirmed that it referred suspicious activity to the authorities and fully cooperated with the investigation, emphasizing that insider trading “has no place” on its platform.

The situation has garnered increased attention in Washington, as officials caution that the growth of prediction markets introduces new risks concerning the potential misuse of sensitive national security information.

US President Donald Trump stated that he was not immediately informed about the case but expressed his unhappiness about such developments and would investigate the matter.

Van Dyke is currently confronted with several federal charges and may face considerable prison time if found guilty.