U.S. Authorities have charged an Army master sergeant with using classified information from a military operation to place bets on the outcome of that same mission, federal prosecutors said. The case centers on allegations that Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a communications specialist with Joint Special Operations Command, wagered on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro using nonpublic details he gained through his role in the planning and execution of the raid.
According to an unsealed indictment from the Southern District of New York, Van Dyke placed approximately 13 bets on the prediction market platform Polymarket between December 27, 2025 and January 26, 2026, risking a total of about $33,034. The bets paid off after news of Maduro’s capture was made public, resulting in winnings exceeding $409,000, prosecutors said.
The Justice Department alleges that Van Dyke violated multiple federal laws by exploiting his access to sensitive military information. He faces charges including unlawful leverage of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and engaging in monetary transactions derived from unlawful activity.
“Prediction markets are not a haven for using misappropriated confidential or classified information for personal gain,” said Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a statement announcing the charges. “The defendant allegedly violated the trust placed in him by the United States Government by using classified information about a sensitive military operation to place bets on the timing and outcome of that very operation, all to turn a profit. That is clear insider trading and is illegal under federal law.”
Van Dyke has been on active duty since 2008 and attained the rank of master sergeant in 2023. At the time of the alleged offenses, he was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, according to military records referenced in the indictment. His role involved supporting communications for elite special mission units under Joint Special Operations Command, which oversees components such as Army Delta Force and Navy SEAL Team Six.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees prediction markets like Polymarket, has too filed a civil action against Van Dyke. The agency seeks restitution, disgorgement of profits, civil monetary penalties, trading and registration bans, and a permanent injunction against future violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.
Federal investigators said the bets were placed shortly after President Donald Trump announced in January 2026 that Maduro had been captured in a U.S.-led military operation. Van Dyke allegedly used his advance knowledge of the operation’s timing and likely success to position himself financially before the information became public.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the misuse of classified information by individuals with access to sensitive national security operations. Legal experts note that while insider trading is commonly associated with financial markets, the same principles apply when nonpublic government information is used to gain an advantage in prediction markets or other speculative ventures.
As of the filing of the indictment, Van Dyke remains in military custody pending further proceedings. No trial date has been publicly scheduled, and the defense has not entered a formal plea. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in coordination with the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
For updates on this case, the public can monitor the docket for United States v. Van Dyke through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system or refer to press releases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
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