Gannon Ken Van Dyke was allegedly involved in the January capture of Nicolás Maduro
A US soldier who was involved in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year has been arrested and could face up to 60 years in prison. Officials allege he made more than $400,000 by betting on the leader’s removal.
Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been charged by the Department of Justice after he allegedly placed trades on Polymarket using classified information that had not been made public. Prosecutors claim the information came from his role in the military operation.
Van Dyke is believed to have won more than $409,000 through the crypto-powered prediction platform. The bets were linked to the timing and outcome of the operation in which US forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3 this year.
Maduro and his wife were captured at their compound in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, during a dramatic overnight operation. The case has since raised questions not only about the capture itself, but also about who had access to sensitive details before it happened.
The pair were later extradited to New York, where they are facing allegations involving weapons and drug offenses. Both Maduro and Flores deny the accusations against them.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain.”
Nicolás Maduro was captured by US forces earlier this yearXNY/Star Max/GC Images
“Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr also addressed the allegations, saying: “Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly betrayed his fellow soldiers by utilizing classified information for his own financial gain.”
“Van Dyke profited more than $400,000 by trading various outcomes related to Venezuela after learning of the operation because of his role as a U.S. Army soldier. The FBI will continue to investigate threats to our nation’s security especially from those entrusted to safeguard sensitive classified information and military operations.”
The bets were placed on PolymarketThéo MARIE-COURTOIS/AFP via Getty Images
The US soldier has been charged with commodities fraud and wire fraud, along with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain. If convicted on the charges, he could face a lengthy prison sentence.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has also filed a complaint against Van Dyke. The CFTC accused him of insider trading linked to the Polymarket bets.
After news of the arrest became public, Polymarket posted a statement on social media, saying: “When we identified a user trading on classified government information, we referred the matter to the DOJ & cooperated with their investigation.”
“Insider trading has no place on Polymarket. Today’s arrest is proof the system works.”
When reporters asked Donald Trump about the arrest on Thursday, he said he had not heard anything about the case yet but would look into it. His comments also touched on the wider rise of betting markets.
“The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino, and you look at what’s going on all over the world, in Europe and every place, they’re doing these betting things,” the president added. “I was never much in favour of it.”
Maduro is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New YorkAlfredo Lasry R/Getty Images
Where is Nicolás Maduro now?
The “kidnapped” president is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. The jail is known for harsh conditions and has previously held several high-profile inmates, including Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, has previously said his father is in “high spirits” and remains “very strong” through daily exercise. Even so, it is unclear how Maduro is coping inside a jail that has faced criticism over “inhumane” and “dangerous” conditions.
Cameron Lindsay, a former director of the facility, spoke to CNN and said Maduro’s routine would likely involve “23 hours a day in solitary confinement” because of his high-profile status. That kind of setup would be used to manage security risks linked to his detention.
The case against Van Dyke now adds another layer to the wider Maduro story. While Maduro faces his own legal battle in New York, prosecutors are also looking at whether classified details about the operation were used for private profit.
The allegations have drawn attention to prediction markets like Polymarket, where users can bet on real-world outcomes. Officials say those platforms do not sit outside the law when classified information or national security matters are involved.
For investigators, the key issue is whether Van Dyke used knowledge from his role as a US Army soldier to place trades before the public knew what was happening. The criminal case and CFTC complaint are expected to address those claims as proceedings move forward.