Federal prosecutors have charged Gannon Ken Van Dyke, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, with using classified military information to make profitable bets on a public prediction market.
According to the indictment, Van Dyke was involved in planning a U.S. operation known as “Operation Absolute Resolve,” which targeted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Prosecutors say he used nonpublic details about the mission to place bets on Polymarket, predicting outcomes tied to the removal of Maduro and U.S. military action in Venezuela.
Between late December 2025 and late January 2026, Van Dyke allegedly placed about 13 bets, wagering roughly $33,000. After the operation targeting Maduro succeeded in early January, those bets paid out, and authorities say he made more than $400,000.
Investigators allege that after the operation became public, Van Dyke moved most of the money into a cryptocurrency account, withdrew funds, and tried to delete his betting account and hide his identity.
He is charged with multiple federal offenses, including fraud, theft of government information, and illegal financial transactions. If convicted, he could face significant prison time, with some charges carrying penalties of up to 20 years.
The case is being handled by federal prosecutors in New York, along with national security investigators. Officials said the charges show that laws protecting classified information apply even when newer platforms, such as prediction markets, are involved.
Maduro, who led Venezuela for more than a decade, has long been a controversial figure internationally, facing U.S. criminal charges related to alleged drug trafficking and corruption. In January 2026, U.S. forces carried out a covert mission known as Operation Absolute Resolve, a months-long, highly coordinated military raid in Caracas that resulted in his capture and removal from power. The operation involved extensive intelligence planning and a rapid extraction by U.S. forces, after which Maduro was taken into U.S. custody to face charges.
