S. Justice Department. His alleged crime?
Making numerous bets on the prediction market Polymarket that Maduro would be removed from power, for which he is said to have made upwards of $400,000. S. would deploy forces into Venezuela and remove Maduro from power.
Van Dyke was arrested on Thursday, CBS reports, citing a law enforcement source. Federal officials say that Van Dykeâs wagers were informed by classified information he had access to as a result of being a government insider. The government notes that Van Dyke signed nondisclosure agreements prohibiting him from ever divulging, publishing, or revealing âby writing, words, conduct, or otherwise .
. . any classified or sensitive informationâ related to the military operations he was involved with.
In December, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account and began making wagers involving âMaduro- and Venezuela-related markets,â officials say. S. Forces in Venezuela .
. . by January 31, 2026â and âMaduro out by .
. . â Officials say that, after collecting his winnings, Van Dyke also took steps to cover up his ties to the account that made the wagers.
Van Dyke faces a variety of charges, including violating the Commodity Exchange Act, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction. âOur men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain,â said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. â Prediction markets have inspired controversy ever since their launch.
But over the past year, the sites have grown in prominence and influence, striking deals with media outlets and sports organizations while also seeing widespread use, including by public officials. Legislation is currently being mulled that would ban public officials from using nonpublic information to make bets on prediction sites.
