US Army Soldier Arrested for Using Secret Intel to Bet on Polymarket Maduro Capture
The US Department of Justice has arrested active-duty Army soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, for allegedly using classified information to place insider bets on Polymarket ahead of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture in January 2026.
Key Allegations
Prosecutors say Van Dyke participated in the planning and execution of the military operation that captured Maduro and his wife on January 3. Despite signing nondisclosure agreements, he created a Polymarket account in December 2025 and placed 13 bets related to Venezuela and Maduro.
He reportedly spent over $33,000 on the bets and made approximately $409,881 in profits. Van Dyke later tried to hide his identity by asking Polymarket to delete his account.
Charges and Investigation
Van Dyke faces:
- Three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act
- One count of wire fraud
- One count of unlawful monetary transaction
He could face up to 60 years in prison if convicted. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has also filed a parallel civil complaint seeking disgorgement, restitution, and penalties.
Reactions and Next Steps
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that no one is above the law and clearance holders who misuse secrets for personal gain will be held accountable. Polymarket confirmed it cooperated fully with the DOJ after identifying suspicious trading based on classified information.
Lawmakers are now considering new regulations to prevent insider betting on prediction markets involving government actions.
This case highlights growing concerns over insider trading on prediction platforms. The investigation remains active.
