Authorities have arrested a special forces soldier who allegedly made $400K on Polymarket bets involving Maduro’s career.

A special forces soldier who was involved in the assassination of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been indicted by the US Department of Justice. He says it’s his fault? Making the most bets on the Polymarket prediction market that Maduro would be ousted from power, which is said to have made more than $400,000.

Officials say Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who was involved in the “planning and execution” of Operation Absolute Resolve (the operation that toppled and captured the Venezuelan leader), made a bet at Polymarket if the US would send troops to Venezuela and remove Maduro from power.

Van Dyke was arrested Thursday, CBS reportsciting a legal source.

Federal officials said Van Dyke’s wagers were informed by information he obtained as a result of being in the government. The government alleges that Van Dyke signed nondisclosure agreements that prohibit him from disclosing, publishing, or disclosing “in writing, speech, conduct, or otherwise …

In December, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account and began making wagers related to “Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets,” officials said. Between December 27, 2025 and January 26 of this year, he allegedly made 13 bets totaling $33,034 in total on things like “US troops in Venezuela . . . by January 31, 2026” and “Maduro by . . . Authorities say that, after collecting his winnings, Van Dyke also took steps to hide his ties to the account that made the wagers.

Van Dyke faces a variety of charges, including violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, wire fraud, and money laundering.

“Our men and women in uniform are trusted with specialized information to carry out their duties as safely and efficiently as possible, and they are not allowed to use this sensitive information for financial gain,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The availability of prediction markets is a new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information are fully operational.”

Prediction markets have been controversial since their inception. But in the last year, the site has gained popularity and influence, attracting the attention of the media and sports organizations while seeing greater use, including. and government officials. Laws is currently under consideration which would prevent public authorities from using non-public information to make bets on betting sites.