Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a 38-year-old US Special Forces soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has been arrested for making a $33,034 bet on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro while involved in the operation to capture him. On January 3, 2026, US forces captured Maduro and his wife, leading to Van Dyke's significant financial gain of over $409,000 from his bets on Polymarket, a prediction market platform. The Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Van Dyke used sensitive classified information to place wagers on various outcomes related to US military actions in Venezuela. He faces serious charges, including three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as well as a count of wire fraud and an unlawful monetary transaction charge. The DOJ noted that Van Dyke attempted to conceal his identity and withdraw his funds shortly after the operation was announced. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the importance of trust in military personnel handling classified information and the prohibition against using such information for personal gain.