CARACAS, VENEZUELA - AUGUST 17: Incumbent President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro looks forward during the 'Gran Marcha Mundial por la Paz' supporting incumbent president Maduro on August 17, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela. President Maduro was declared as the winner of the 2024 presidential election over his rival, Edmundo Gonzalez. The result has been questioned by the opposition and internationally. According to the opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the result announced by the 'Consejo Nacional Electoral' (CNE) does not reflect the decision made by the Venezuelans during the election. (Photo by Alfredo Lasry R/Getty Images)
Shortly after Trump's announcement of "Operation Absolute Resolve", reports of suspicious trading activity on Polymarket concerning Maduro's capture emerged in the press and across social media. The reports prompted Van Dyke to attempt concealing his identity as the trader responsible for the questionable Maduro wagers. He requested Polymarket delete his account, falsely claiming he had lost access to the email address associated with the account.
On the same day he made that request, Van Dyke altered the email registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account to an email address not subscribed to in his name.
The reports prompted Van Dyke to attempt concealing his identity as the trader responsible for the questionable Maduro wagers. He requested Polymarket delete his account, falsely claiming he had lost access to the email address associated with the account.
On the same day he made that request, Van Dyke altered the email registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account to an email address not subscribed to in his name.
The indictment states: "Rather than safeguard that information as he was obligated to do, VAN DYKE decided to use that classified information to place trades on a prediction market platform for his personal profit.
"VAN DYKE subsequently tried to conceal his unlawful use of classified US Government information by attempting to obscure the source of his unlawful proceeds and to disguise his connection to the accounts linked to the illicit trades," it continues.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by UPI/Shutterstock (16222601a)President Donald Trump shared on his Truth Social account an image of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima following his capture by U.S. forces on Saturday, January 3, 2026. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. Photo via Donald Trump/Truth Social/UPIPresident Trump Shares Image of Former Venezuelan President Maduro in U.S. Custody, Washington, District of Columbia, United States - 03 Jan 2026
A Polymarket spokesperson confirmed that the company had flagged the suspicious wagers to the Department of Justice and fully cooperated with the investigation from beginning to end, according to a statement shared on social media. "Insider trading has no place on Polymarket. Today's arrest is proof the system works," the statement read.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the indictment was a clear message for those with access to privileged information. "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," he said. "Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable."