US Special Forces Soldier Arrested Over Maduro Operation Insider Trading Scheme

Federal prosecutors say the servicemember used classified intelligence tied to “Operation Absolute Resolve” to place high-stakes bets on Polymarket, netting more than $400,000

A US Special Forces soldier allegedly involved in the capture operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been arrested on charges of insider trading linked to classified military intelligence.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted Gannon Ken Van Dyke, an active-duty servicemember stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, accusing him of using non-public government information to place speculative trades on the prediction platform Polymarket.

Federal prosecutors say Van Dyke profited more than $409,000 from bets placed with an initial stake of roughly $32,000, exploiting sensitive details connected to “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a classified mission in which he was allegedly directly involved.

According to the DOJ, Van Dyke participated in the planning and execution of the operation between December 8, 2025, and at least January 6, 2026, gaining access to classified and sensitive intelligence. Around December 26, 2025, he reportedly created a Polymarket account and began trading on markets linked to Maduro and Venezuela, betting on operational timing and outcomes.

Authorities allege the trades, totaling more than $33,000 in wagers, were made “for the sole purpose of personal financial gain,” constituting illegal use of classified information under federal law.

The DOJ described the conduct as a clear case of insider trading, stating it violates US federal statutes governing the handling of sensitive government intelligence.

Polymarket confirmed it had flagged the activity after detecting trading behavior tied to classified information and reported it to federal authorities. The company said it cooperated fully with the investigation, adding that insider trading “has no place on Polymarket” and that the arrest demonstrates the system is functioning as intended.

Van Dyke now faces multiple charges, including misuse of government information for personal gain, theft of non-public government data, fraud involving property, wire fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions.

US officials condemned the alleged conduct. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said service members are entrusted with classified material solely to carry out missions safely and effectively, and are explicitly prohibited from exploiting such information for financial advantage.