Federal authorities arrested and charged a U.S. special forces soldier for making bets on the raid that removed Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from office.
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The soldier “bet a total of approximately $33,034” on the Maduro operation, federal authorities said. He ultimately made more than $409,000 as a result of the bets placed on the U.S. operation, an unsealed indictment alleges.
In a news release announcing the indictment, the soldier was identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke.
Authorities said he “participated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro.”
The soldier was charged with “unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.”
“The charges arise from an alleged scheme in which Van Dyke used sensitive classified information to make wagers on Polymarket,” the statement from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said.
Polymarket did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Asked about the arrest in the Oval Office during an unrelated event, which ABC News first reported earlier, President Donald Trump told reporters that he does not like the concept of betting.
“I don’t know about it,” Trump said. “I’ll look into it.”
Trump added that it was “like Pete Rose betting on his own team.”
“The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino,” Trump added when asked more generally about betting markets and bets placed on major geopolitical events.
“I’m not happy with any of that stuff,” Trump continued.
“Today’s announcement makes clear no one is above the law, and this FBI will do whatever it takes to defend the homeland and safeguard our nation’s secrets,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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