US Arrests Green Beret Over Alleged $400,000 Bet on Venezuelan Raid

The US Department of Justice has arrested a high-ranking Army officer for allegedly using classified information to place wagers on a military operation in Venezuela. Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a member of the US Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, is accused of using his knowledge of the forthcoming raid to place bets worth $33,000, which ultimately earned him around $400,000. The indictment, which was unsealed on Thursday, charges Van Dyke with unlawfully using confidential government information for personal gain, theft of non-public government information, and fraud. According to the allegations, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account in December 2025 and placed 13 bets between then and January 2026 on the likelihood of US forces landing in Venezuela, removing Maduro, and other related events. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is also pursuing an insider trading complaint against Van Dyke in federal court. The defendant's actions have been condemned by US Attorney Jay Clayton, who stated that Van Dyke's alleged actions constitute 'clear insider trading' and are illegal under federal law. Van Dyke is accused of attempting to conceal his identity by asking Polymarket to delete his account and changing his email address. The case has drawn attention from high-profile figures, including US President Donald Trump, who expressed his disapproval of the use of confidential information for betting purposes. Trump stated that the world has become 'somewhat of a casino' and that he does not conceptually favor such activities.