Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a 38-year-old U.S. Army special forces soldier, has been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for using classified information to profit from an online betting market. Van Dyke allegedly earned more than $400,000 by wagering on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Federal authorities state that Van Dyke was involved in the planning and execution of the military operation to capture and depose Maduro in January. Beginning in early December, he allegedly used his access to classified government information regarding the timing of the raid to make 13 bets on the prediction market Polymarket before the news of the operation was reported.
The soldier now faces up to 60 years in prison. The case has drawn increased scrutiny toward the growing prediction market industry, including platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, amid rising concerns over insider trading by individuals with access to sensitive information.