US Army Special Forces Soldier Charged With Federal Insider Trading for Polymarket Maduro Bets

U.S. soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke faces federal charges for using classified Maduro capture intel to profit $400,000 on Polymarket.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 10:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Gambling Insider

Federal Indictment for Misuse of Classified Military Intelligence

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have charged Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, with insider trading and wire fraud. The government alleges that Van Dyke utilized sensitive, nonpublic information regarding "Operation Absolute Resolve," the U.S. mission to apprehend former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, to place lucrative wagers. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated that prediction markets are not a haven for misappropriating government trust for personal gain, characterizing the activity as clear and illegal insider trading.

Strategic Wagering Ahead of Maduro Apprehension

According to court filings, Van Dyke had direct access to classified planning details for the Maduro operation. Between late December 2025 and January 2, 2026, he allegedly placed over $33,000 in "Yes" trades on the platform Polymarket. These bets specifically predicted that U.S. forces would enter Venezuela and that Maduro would be removed from power. Following the successful capture of Maduro in the early hours of January 3, 2026, the markets resolved in the soldier's favor, generating a net profit of approximately $409,881.

Landmark Enforcement Action by the CFTC

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a parallel complaint, describing this as a landmark case for the prediction market industry. This action marks the first time the regulator has charged insider trading involving event contracts and the inaugural use of the "Eddie Murphy Rule" regarding the misuse of government information. CFTC officials emphasized that the agency intends to apply the full force of the law against anyone engaging in fraud or manipulation within these emerging financial markets.