US Authorities Arrest Green Beret for Allegedly Betting on Confidential Venezuela Raid

The US Department of Justice has taken a master sergeant from the Army into custody, accusing him of misusing confidential government information for personal financial benefit. The sergeant, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, allegedly used his knowledge of an impending raid on Venezuela to place bets worth $33,000, which ultimately yielded around $400,000 in winnings. According to the indictment, Van Dyke created an account on the betting platform Polymarket and made multiple bets between December 26, 2025, and January 2, 2026, regarding the potential outcomes of the US military operation in Venezuela. The US Attorney's office has stated that Van Dyke's actions constitute a clear case of insider trading, which is illegal under federal law. In addition to the criminal charges, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is pursuing an insider trading complaint against Van Dyke. The accused is an active-duty soldier with the US Army Special Forces and was involved in planning and executing the operation to apprehend former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Following the raid, Van Dyke allegedly attempted to conceal his identity and transferred his winnings into a brokerage account. The case has drawn attention to the potential risks of using confidential information for personal gain, with the CFTC Chairman emphasizing that such actions can compromise national security and put lives at risk. The incident has also prompted a response from US President Donald Trump, who expressed his disapproval of betting on sensitive information, describing the world as having become 'somewhat of a casino'.