US Authorities Arrest Green Beret Over Alleged Insider Trading on Venezuela Raid

The US Department of Justice has taken action against a high-ranking Army officer, Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, for allegedly exploiting sensitive government information for personal financial gain. Van Dyke, a member of the elite US Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, is accused of using his knowledge of an impending military operation in Venezuela to place bets worth $33,000, which ultimately yielded approximately $400,000 in winnings. According to the indictment, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account in late December 2025 and made a series of bets between then and early January 2026, speculating on the success and timing of the US operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The US Attorney's office contends that Van Dyke's actions constitute a clear case of insider trading, which is strictly prohibited under federal law. The defendant allegedly attempted to conceal his involvement by requesting that Polymarket delete his account and altering his email address. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is also pursuing a complaint against Van Dyke, citing the endangerment of national security and the lives of American service members. In response to the allegations, US President Donald Trump expressed his disapproval of the practice of using confidential information for betting purposes, likening the global situation to a 'casino.'