US special forces soldier who won $409K on Maduro bet is arrested

Published: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 10:18 pm

US Special Forces Soldier Arrested for Alleged Insider Trading on Maduro Bet

A U.S. Special Forces soldier has been arrested on charges of insider trading related to bets placed on the prediction market Polymarket concerning the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. According to a law enforcement source, the soldier, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke, allegedly placed bets before the public announcement of a military operation to capture Maduro.

Federal investigators believe Van Dyke made bets totaling over $33,000 on Polymarket shortly after President Trump announced Maduro's capture in January. These bets were successful, resulting in winnings exceeding $409,000.

An indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York charges Van Dyke with several offenses, including unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and engaging in monetary transactions from unlawful activity. The Justice Department stated that Van Dyke was involved in planning and executing the operation to capture Maduro.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized that prediction markets are not a platform for using classified information for personal profit. He stated that Van Dyke allegedly violated the trust placed in him by the government by using classified information about a sensitive military operation to place bets on its outcome.

The bets placed on Polymarket included wagers on Maduro's removal by a specific date, a U.S. invasion of Venezuela, the invocation of the War Powers Act, and U.S. forces landing in Venezuela.

During an unrelated event, President Trump stated he would look into the matter. He expressed disapproval of the alleged betting, comparing it to the case of Pete Rose, who was banned from baseball for gambling. Trump also commented on the prevalence of betting in the world, stating he was not in favor of it.

This arrest marks the first of its kind for U.S. authorities, although two Israeli soldiers were previously charged in connection with similar allegations on Polymarket.

BNN's Perspective:

This case highlights the potential for abuse within prediction markets and the need for robust oversight. While these platforms can offer interesting insights, the risk of insider trading and the exploitation of sensitive information must be addressed to maintain public trust and ensure the integrity of these markets.

Keywords: US Special Forces, Arrest, Insider Trading, Maduro, Polymarket, Prediction Market, Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, Trump, Commodities Fraud, Wire Fraud, Classified Information, Military Operation, Betting, Justice Department

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