Story perspectives

Army Sergeant Indicted for $400K Classified Crypto Bets

4/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Army sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke opened a Polymarket account through VPN.
The bets generated over $400,000 after the Jan 3 raid that captured Nicolás Maduro.
He signed a Dec 8 nondisclosure agreement, was aboard a Navy vessel, moved winnings to a crypto vault, and was indicted for using classified information to trade.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said service members with secret access must not profit and noted Polymarket is cooperating.

History

Historical Context

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense prohibited military personnel from gambling with classified information, following incidents where service members, including Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, profited illicitly, with some gains exceeding $400,000. This directive reflects ongoing concerns about ethical conduct in the military, particularly after the Tailhook scandal of 1991, which exposed systemic issues regarding sexual harassment and accountability within military ranks.

1 of 2

Story summary

U.S. Army sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke opened a Polymarket account through VPN.
The bets generated over $400,000 after the Jan 3 raid that captured Nicolás Maduro.
He signed a Dec 8 nondisclosure agreement, was aboard a Navy vessel, moved winnings to a crypto vault, and was indicted for using classified information to trade.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said service members with secret access must not profit and noted Polymarket is cooperating.

1 / 2