US Soldier Won $400,000 Betting On Secret Mission, Then Got Caught

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 16:30 IST

Prosecutors say he used classified information about a Maduro operation to cash in big

A US soldier has been arrested after allegedly making more than $400,000 by betting on a secret military operation before it became public.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, an active-duty soldier based in North Carolina, is accused of using classified information about a US mission targeting Venezuela’s former leader Nicolás Maduro, the BBC reported.

According to the US Department of Justice, Van Dyke was involved in planning the operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, and had access to sensitive details weeks before it was carried out.

Prosecutors say he created an account on the prediction platform Polymarket in late December and began placing bets on events linked to Maduro and Venezuela. He reportedly placed more than $33,000 in bets while he had access to information that was not known to public.

On January 3, when US forces carried out a night-time raid in Caracas, capturing Maduro and his wife, Van Dyke’s bets paid off. He earned more than $409,000 for betting on this operation, according to investigators.

Officials say using confidential government information for personal profit amounts to insider trading. He is now charged with several counts, such as fraud, stealing government information, and making illegal monetary transactions.

The authorities have emphasized that members of the military have access to classified information, and it is against regulations to use it for personal profit. Van Dyke had signed non-disclosure agreements clearly stating he would not disclose or use such information.

The case is also putting a spotlight on prediction markets such as Polymarket, where individuals can place bets on real-life outcomes.

According to the company, it discovered the illicit behaviour and notified the relevant authorities, stating that insider trading is strictly prohibited on the website.

The government bodies, like the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, have also submitted complaints, asserting that this is an obvious case of insider trading.

In any event, further investigation is still going on.

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