BBC News | US soldier accused of betting on Maduro's removal pleads not guilty to fraud charges

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A U.S. Army Special Forces master sergeant, 38‑year‑old Gannon Ken Van Dyke, was arraigned in New York federal court after being accused of using classified intelligence about a secret operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to place bets on the cryptocurrency‑based prediction market Polymarket. Prosecutors say he profited by more than $400,000 by purchasing dozens of bets between late December and early January that predicted U.S. forces would move into Venezuela and that Maduro would be ousted, allegedly violating non‑disclosure agreements and committing unlawful use of confidential government information, theft of non‑public information, commodities and wire fraud, and illegal monetary transactions. Van Dyke pleaded not guilty, was released on a $250,000 bond with travel restrictions, and his case marks the first DOJ insider‑trading charge involving a prediction market.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0p54j9r9vo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

#VanDyke #NicolsMaduro #Polymarket #CFTC #GannonKenVanDyke

Donald Trump defendió a soldado que apostó por la caída de Nicolás Maduro y lo comparó con Pete Rose

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://lapatilla.com/2026/04/24/donald-trump-defendio-a-soldado-que-aposto-por-la-caida-de-nicolas-maduro-y-lo-comparo-con-pete-rose/

Slate Magazine | We’re Seeing Exactly What Happens When You Can Bet On War—and It’s Horrifying by Alex Kirshner

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The article reports that a U.S. Army special‑forces master sergeant, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke, was charged by the Justice Department for illegally using confidential information to place large bets on the prediction‑market platform Polymarket that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would be ousted—profits that turned roughly $34,000 of bets into a $400,000 windfall after the January raid. It explains how insider‑trading rules are clear in traditional markets but murkier in prediction markets, where traders can profit from privileged knowledge about military or political events, and highlights the broader risks of abuse as these platforms become popular, especially under a political climate that encourages profiting from government actions. The piece also raises questions about why similar non‑military abuses are not pursued with the same vigor, critiques the industry’s attempts to portray itself as regulated, and underscores concerns that prediction markets, by allowing bets on virtually any future event, pose a growing national‑security and corruption problem.

Read more: https://slate.com/technology/2026/04/polymarket-kalshi-trump-prediction-markets-maduro.html

#NicolásMaduro #VanDyke #Polymarket #CFTC #military #GannonKenVanDyke

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L'Unità: Scommette su Polymarket sulla cattura di Maduro in Venezuela, militare Usa vince 400mila dollari ma viene arrestato

Oltra la “semplice” operazione militare che ha portato gli Stati Uniti alla cattura/rapimento di Nicolás Maduro, il presidente e autocrate alla guida del Venezuela arrestato lo scorso 3 gennaio a Caracas dalle forze speciali americane e poi trasferito negli Stati Uniti assieme alla moglie per essere sottoposto a processo.
L’assalto compiuto su ordine di Donald Trump per catturare Maduro è stato anche una clamorosa operazione finanziaria per una persona a conoscenza dell’operazione.
Si tratta del sergente maggiore Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38enne veterano di stanza a Fort Bragg, che grazie all’accesso privilegiato ad informazioni top secret sull’operazione per la cattura di Maduro ha deciso di “monetizzare” l’arresto del presidente venezuelano.
Come? Utilizzando Polymarket, a controversa “piattaforma predittiva” che di fatto funziona come centro scommesse legato a praticamente ogni aspetto della contemporaneità, dal meteo allo sport fino alle geopolitica.
Van Dyke, secondo quanto scrive il New York Times basandosi sugli atti di accusa depositati a Manhattan, dove si terrà il processo contro il sergente maggiore dell’esercito, avrebbe piazzato 13 scommesse su Polymarket puntando con precisione sui tempi e gli esiti della missione poco prima del via libera della Casa Bianca alla cattura di Maduro: una scommessa a colpo sicuro che gli ha consentito di intascare poco più di 400mila dollari.
A incastrare Van Dyke è stata la stessa Polymarket, che ha segnalato il flusso anomalo di “scommesse” al dipartimento di Giustizia statunitense. Il sergente maggiore rischia ora una condanna fino a 50 anni di reclusione per frode e uso illegale di informazioni governative.
“Purtroppo il mondo intero è diventato una specie di casinò… in Europa e ovunque, si fanno questo genere di scommesse”, è stato il commento ai giornalisti il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump.
Proprio personaggi vicini all’amministrazione Trump sono “sospettati” di aver sfruttato nel recente passato informazioni riservate per effettuare operazioni su Polymarket e Kalshi, altra nota piattaforma “predittiva”, in particolare sullo scoppio della guerra in Iran e sulla fluttuazione nei prezzi del petrolio a seguito degli annunci di Trump sui cessate il fuoco nel Golfo.

He bet on Polymarket regarding the capture of Maduro in Venezuela, a US military official wins $400,000 but is arrested.

Beyond the “simple” military operation that led the United States to the capture/kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro, the president and autocrat at the helm of Venezuela arrested on January 3rd in Caracas by American special forces and subsequently transferred to the United States along with his wife to face trial, there was also a sensational financial operation involving a person aware of the operation.

This was Sergeant Major Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a 38-year-old veteran stationed at Fort Bragg, who, thanks to privileged access to top-secret information about the operation to capture Maduro, decided to “monetize” the arrest of the Venezuelan president.

How? By using Polymarket, a controversial “predictive platform” that essentially functions as a betting center linked to virtually every aspect of contemporary life, from weather to sports to geopolitics.

According to the New York Times, based on the charges filed in Manhattan where the sergeant major of the army will stand trial, Van Dyke placed 13 bets on Polymarket, accurately predicting the timing and outcomes of the mission just before the White House gave the go-ahead for Maduro’s capture – a sure thing that allowed him to pocket just over $400,000.

Polymarket itself implicated Van Dyke, reporting the abnormal flow of “bets” to the U.S. Department of Justice. The sergeant major now faces a sentence of up to 50 years in prison for fraud and the illegal use of government information.

“Unfortunately, the whole world has become a kind of casino… in Europe and everywhere, these types of bets are made,” President of the United States Donald Trump commented to journalists.

It was even individuals close to the Trump administration who are “suspected” of having exploited confidential information in the recent past to make operations on Polymarket and Kalshi, another well-known “predictive” platform, particularly on the outbreak of the war in Iran and the fluctuations in oil prices following Trump’s announcements of ceasefires in the Gulf.

#Maduro #Venezuela #theUnitedStates #NicolásMaduro #Caracas #American #GannonKenVanDyke #FortBragg #Venezuelan #Polymarket #theNewYorkTimes #Manhattan #VanDyke #theWhiteHouse #Europe #DonaldTrump #Trump #Kalshi

https://www.unita.it/2026/04/24/militare-usa-scommessa-polymarket-cattura-maduro/

Boston.com | U.S. soldier charged with using classified intel to win $400K Polymarket bet on Maduro raid by Associated Press

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U.S. special‑forces soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who helped plan and execute the January 2026 operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has been charged with unlawfully using classified mission information to place insider bets on the prediction‑market site Polymarket, netting more than $400,000 in profit; federal prosecutors allege he moved $35,000 of personal funds to a cryptocurrency exchange, wagered that Maduro would be ousted by Jan. 31, 2026, and then laundered the winnings through foreign crypto vaults, leading to charges of theft of nonpublic government information, commodities and wire fraud, unlawful monetary transaction, and potential prison time, while the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a parallel complaint and calls for stricter regulation of geopolitical prediction markets.

Read more: https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2026/04/24/u-s-soldier-charged-with-using-classified-intel-to-win-400k-polymarket-bet-on-maduro-raid/

#VanDyke #NicolásMaduro #Polymarket #CFTC #FBI #GannonKenVanDyke #KashPatel #MichaelSelig #DonaldTrump #PeteRose

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Il Fatto Quotidiano: Polymarket, soldato Usa arrestato per aver scommesso sulla cattura di Maduro: era coinvolto nell’operazione

In una settimana ha guadagnato 400mila dollari, ora rischia fino a 50 anni di carcere. Un soldato delle forze speciali degli Stati Uniti è stato incriminato per frode dopo aver scommesso sulla caduta del dittatore venezuelano Nicolás Maduro su Polymarket. Il problema è che il sergente capo Gannon Ken Van Dyke era direttamente coinvolto nella pianificazione ed esecuzione dell’operazione che il 2 gennaio ha effettivamente portato alla cattura del presidente del Venezuela. È l’ennesimo caso al limite dell’insider trading che coinvolge Polymarket, la piattaforma sulla quale si possono puntare soldi sulla predizione di qualsiasi tipo di evento. L’ultimo episodio erano state le scommesse piazzate sui bombardamenti in Iran.
La lista di accuse per Van Dyke è lunga: uso illecito di informazioni governative riservate per profitto personale, furto di informazioni governative, frode telematica e transazioni monetarie illegali. Sfruttando la piattaforma che permette di scommettere in criptovalute, il sergente ha aperto il suo primo profilo il 26 dicembre mentre era di stanza alla base militare di Fort Bragg, nella Carolina del Nord. È da lì che ha partecipato all’operazione per catturare Maduro, ruolo che gli ha fornito accesso a informazioni riservate. Grazie a quei dati confidenziali ha piazzato 13 scommesse su Polymarket. Van Dyke prima è stato cauto, con una puntata di 96 dollari il 27 dicembre. La seconda è stata già più azzardata: 32.500 dollari sulla destituzione di Maduro entro il 31 gennaio. Quasi tutte le altre si sono concentrate nella notte del 2 gennaio, il giorno dell’operazione.
Subito dopo la vincita Van Dyke ha trasferito gran parte del denaro in un portafoglio di criptovalute all’estero e ha cancellato il suo account da Polymarket. Tutte operazioni che hanno allarmato la piattaforma di prediction market che ha segnalato l’accaduto al dipartimento della Giustizia statunitense. “L’insider trading non ha posto su Polymarket”, ha dichiarato la società in una nota. A quel punto sono iniziate le indagini della autorità federali che hanno portato all’incriminazione del sergente 38enne.
L'articolo Polymarket, soldato Usa arrestato per aver scommesso sulla cattura di Maduro: era coinvolto nell’operazione proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

A U.S. soldier was arrested for betting on the capture of Maduro: he was involved in the operation.

In one week, he earned $400,000, now he risks up to 50 years in prison. A U.S. special forces soldier has been charged with fraud after betting on the downfall of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on Polymarket. The problem is that Sergeant Captain Gannon Ken Van Dyke was directly involved in the planning and execution of the operation that, on January 2nd, actually led to the capture of the Venezuelan president. It’s the latest case on the edge of insider trading involving Polymarket, the platform where money can be bet on the prediction of any type of event. The previous episode had been the bets placed on bombings in Iran.

Van Dyke’s list of charges is extensive: illegal use of confidential government information for personal profit, theft of government information, electronic fraud, and illegal monetary transactions. Utilizing the platform that allows betting on cryptocurrencies, the sergeant opened his first profile on December 26th while stationed at Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina. It was from there that he participated in the operation to capture Maduro, a role that provided him with access to confidential information. Thanks to that confidential data, he placed 13 bets on Polymarket. Van Dyke was initially cautious, with a $96 bet on December 27th. The second was already much riskier: $32,500 on Maduro’s removal by January 31st. Almost all the others focused on the night of January 2nd, the day of the operation.

Immediately after the win, Van Dyke transferred a large portion of the money into a cryptocurrency wallet abroad and deleted his account from Polymarket. All operations that alarmed the prediction market platform, which reported the incident to the U.S. Department of Justice. “Insider trading has no place on Polymarket,” the company stated in a note. At that point, federal authorities began investigating, leading to the indictment of the 38-year-old sergeant.

The article Polymarket, U.S. soldier arrested for betting on Maduro’s capture: he was involved in the operation comes from Il Fatto Quotidiano.

#Maduro #Venezuelan #NicolásMaduro #Polymarket #GannonKenVanDyke #first #FortBragg #NorthCarolina #Polymarket #second #VanDyke #IlFattoQuotidiano

https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/04/24/polymarket-soldato-scommesse-maduro-news/8365315/

9News | US soldier arrested over $573,000 bet on capture of Venezuelan president by 9News

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A U.S. Army special‑forces soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, was arrested after allegedly wagering $46,000 on a Polymarket prediction market that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would be out of office by Jan. 31, and then profiting about $573,000 when U.S. forces captured Maduro on Jan. 3. Van Dyke, who was photographed on the warship that took Maduro, is charged with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act, wire fraud and an unlawful monetary transaction, offenses that could carry up to 60 years in prison. Prosecutors say he used classified information from his role in the operation to place the bets, transferred the winnings to a foreign cryptocurrency vault, and tried to delete his Polymarket account. Polymarket has cooperated with the Department of Justice, noting the incident demonstrates its compliance with insider‑trading rules. This case follows several recent instances of alleged insider trading on prediction‑market platforms involving geopolitical events.

Read more: https://www.9news.com.au/world/nicolas-maduro-venezuela-polymarket-bet-soldier-arrested-usa-news/9a0a6c79-8893-4988-a7ff-a37b508648dc

#VanDyke #NicolásMaduro #Polymarket #FBI #DOJ #GannonKenVanDyke #ToddBlanche #JamesC.BarnacleJr.

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The Daily Beast Latest Articles | Soldier Who Nabbed Maduro for Trump Arrested After Betting on Mission by Catherine Bouris

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A U.S. special‑forces senior enlisted soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who helped plan and execute the Jan. 3 mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was arrested after prosecutors alleged he used his privileged, classified knowledge to bet on the operation’s success, winning more than $400,000 through prediction‑market platforms such as Polymarket. Van Dyke, a Master Sergeant stationed at Fort Bragg, faces charges including unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic information, commodities and wire fraud, and illegal monetary transactions. Federal officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, praised the investigation, while President Donald Trump likened the case to “Pete Rose betting on his own team.” The arrest underscores heightened concerns about insider trading in online betting markets and the enforcement of ethics rules for government employees.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/soldier-who-nabbed-nicolas-maduro-for-donald-trump-arrested-after-betting-on-mission/

#VanDyke #NicolásMaduro #DonaldTrump #Kalshi #FBI #GannonVanDyke #KashPatel #ToddBlanche #JDVance #PeteRose

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The Guardian | US soldier involved in Maduro raid charged over alleged bets on capture by Uwa Ede-Osifo

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A US soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who helped plan the January operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was arrested after allegedly wagering more than $400,000 on a prediction‑market platform (Polymarket) that US forces would invade Venezuela and depose Maduro between early December and early January. Charged with commodities and wire fraud and unlawful use of classified information, Van Dyke faces up to 60 years in prison, with DOJ officials condemning the alleged insider‑trading of sensitive intelligence. Polymarket said it had reported the activity to authorities, and the case arrives amid broader scrutiny of prediction‑market betting by public officials, including recent fines on congressional candidates by a rival platform and heightened political debate, highlighted by President Trump’s remarks likening the situation to “Pete Rose betting on his own team.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/23/maduro-raid-soldier-charged

#VanDyke #NicolásMaduro #FBI #Polymarket #predictionmarkets #GannonVanDyke #JamesBarnacle #ToddBlanche #KashPatel #DonaldTrump

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BBC News | US soldier charged after winning $400,000 betting on removal of Maduro

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U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke, stationed at Fort Bragg, was arrested and charged after allegedly using classified information about “Operation Absolute Resolve”—the night‑time raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife—to place bets on the crypto‑based prediction market Polymarket. Prosecutors say he opened an account in late December 2025, wagered over $33,000 on the timing and outcome of the operation, and profited more than $409,000. He now faces charges of unlawful use of confidential government information, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions, with the Department of Justice emphasizing that military personnel are prohibited from exploiting sensitive intelligence for personal gain.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20832yg5p2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

#VanDyke #NicolásMaduro #FortBragg #Polymarket #CFTC #DonaldTrump #U.S.Army #AbsoluteResolve # #GannonVanDyke

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