An unusual scandal has erupted in the United States, shaking both the military sphere and financial markets. A soldier who participated in a secret operation is accused of using his country’s classified information to earn large sums of money on the betting market. Zamin.uz presents the details of this high-profile arrest and the “insider trading” connected to Maduro’s fate.
$400,000 through classified information
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced official charges against Master Sergeant Gannon Van Dyke, who took part in the operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. It was revealed that the 38-year-old serviceman used highly classified information entrusted to him for personal gain.
“Men and women in uniform are entrusted with classified information so they can carry out their missions as safely and effectively as possible, and they are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial benefit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.
He placed bets on the Polymarket prediction platform regarding the entry of U.S. forces into Venezuela and Maduro’s removal from power, earning a net profit of $400,000. This occurred several weeks before Maduro’s arrest on January 3, 2026.
The revealing “sea photo”
The Manhattan federal court accuses Van Dyke of theft of government information, fraud, and illegal financial transactions. Notably, the soldier himself left evidence: early in the morning of January 3, just hours after Maduro’s arrest, he posted a photo on social media showing himself in military uniform, holding a rifle, standing on the deck of a ship at sea. This image became key evidence proving his presence at the operation site.
“The photograph shows Van Dyke in military uniform holding a rifle on the deck of a ship at sea at sunrise, along with three other individuals in military uniform,” the indictment states.
Trump’s reaction: like the “Pete Rose case”
President Donald Trump reacted to the situation in his own way. He compared the incident to baseball star Pete Rose, who bet on his own team to win.
“This is like Pete Rose betting on his own team. If he had bet against his team, that would be bad, but he bet on them to win. I will definitely look into this case,” Trump said.
A crime of a new kind
This is the first official charge in U.S. history involving insider trading related to prediction markets. According to the Department of Justice, classified information is provided to soldiers not for enrichment, but to ensure the safe execution of missions. The Polymarket platform, in turn, stated that there is no place for insider trading in its system and that it is cooperating with the investigation.
Dear readers, do you think the actions of a soldier who used his official position to “gamble” can be justified? As Trump suggested, is betting on the victory of one’s own team (country) acceptable?
Stay tuned to Zamin.uz for the latest news on global politics and high-profile arrests.
