A special forces soldier involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been arrested for allegedly making over $400,000 through bets on his own operation’s success via the prediction market Polymarket. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who was part of Operation Absolute Resolve, reportedly placed numerous wagers between December 27, 2025, and January 26, 2026, including on U.S. forces entering Venezuela and Maduro leaving power.

Officials say Van Dyke’s bets were based on classified information he had access to as a government insider, violating nondisclosure agreements. He reportedly took steps to cover his tracks after collecting winnings from these illegal wagers.

The case highlights the growing concern over prediction markets and their use by those in possession of sensitive information. The soldier faces charges under the Commodity Exchange Act, wire fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions. His actions have prompted renewed calls for laws banning public officials from using nonpublic information to make such bets on these sites.

The incident comes as legislation is being considered that would limit such practices, reflecting a broader debate over transparency and ethics in financial markets.