US Arrests Green Beret Over Alleged Insider Trading on Venezuela Raid

The US Department of Justice has arrested a master sergeant from the Army's Special Forces, alleging that he used classified information about a military operation in Venezuela to place bets and win around $400,000. The sergeant, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 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 13 bets between December 26, 2025, and January 2, 2026, on contracts related to the potential US invasion of Venezuela and the removal of Nicolas Maduro. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is also pursuing an insider trading complaint against Van Dyke. The case has drawn attention to the potential risks of using confidential information for personal gain, with the US Attorney stating that Van Dyke's actions constituted 'clear insider trading' and endangered national security. Van Dyke, who was involved in the planning and execution of the military operation, allegedly attempted to conceal his identity and actions after the raid. The incident has also prompted comments from US President Donald Trump, who expressed his disapproval of the use of confidential information for betting purposes.