An Army Special Forces sergeant pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to felony charges of using classified military secrets about the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to win more than $400,000 on Polymarket.
Loading audio narration…
Gannon Van Dyke , 38, appeared in federal court in Manhattan, answering with a brisk “Yes, your honor” when asked if he had read his indictment and discussed it with his legal team.
He stood to enter his not guilty plea, again answering crisply.
Van Dyke was then released on $250,000 bond. His travel is restricted to California, where he lives, New York, where he faces charges, North Carolina, where his command is located. He is not to possess a firearm or indulge in excessive alcohol use, the judge ordered.
He is charged with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of non-public information, commodities, and wire fraud, and money laundering.
Prosecutors say Van Dyke, of Modesto, California, was involved in the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve, the military effort to capture Maduro — and used his access to secrets to reap a windfall on the popular prediction market.
Van Dyke was assigned to the US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He is currently on leave, his attorney, Zach Intrater, told the court — though his status is “unsettled at this moment,” the lawyer added.
“As of right now, he is still associated with the military, but on a leave status,” Intrater said.
Prosecutors say Van Dyke had signed non-disclosure agreements concerning the Maduro operation, only to place 13 bets on the operation’s outcome between December 27, 2025, and January 2, 2026.
His bets totaled $33,000 and took an affirmative position on whether the US would take action in Venezuela or seek to oust Maduro by January 31, prosecutors said.
Polymarket flagged the bets — and Van Dyke’s $409,000 in winnings — to the authorities, CEO Shayne Coplan told the Associated Press after the sergeant’s arrest.
Van Dyke is due back in court on June 8 before US District Court Judge Margaret M. Garnett.
