US Army Green Beret Arrested Over $400,000 Bets on Venezuela Raid

The US Department of Justice has arrested a high-ranking Army officer for allegedly using classified information to place bets on a military operation in Venezuela, resulting in significant financial gains. Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, an active-duty soldier with the US Army Special Forces, is accused of unlawfully using government information for personal gain, theft of non-public information, and fraud. According to the indictment, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account and placed multiple bets on the outcome of the Venezuela raid, which he was involved in planning and executing. The bets, totaling $33,000, yielded approximately $400,000 in winnings. US Attorney Jay Clayton stated that Van Dyke's actions constituted 'clear insider trading' and violated federal law. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is also pursuing an insider trading complaint against Van Dyke, citing the endangerment of national security and the lives of American service members. Following the raid, Van Dyke allegedly attempted to conceal his identity by withdrawing funds, converting them to cryptocurrency, and transferring them to a brokerage account. The incident has drawn attention from news organizations and prompted a response from US President Donald Trump, who expressed concerns about the use of confidential information for betting purposes.