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

The US Department of Justice has arrested a master sergeant in the Army, alleging he used classified information about a military operation in Venezuela to place bets worth $33,000, resulting in winnings of approximately $400,000. Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been charged with unlawfully using government information for personal gain, theft of non-public government information, and fraud. According to the indictment, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account and placed 13 bets on contracts related to the US raid on Venezuela, including the potential invasion and removal of Nicolas Maduro. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is also pursuing an insider trading complaint. Van Dyke, an active-duty soldier with the US Army Special Forces, allegedly attempted to conceal his identity and withdrew his winnings after the raid. The incident has drawn attention from US President Donald Trump, who expressed concerns about the use of confidential information for betting purposes.