US soldier charged after winning $400,000 betting on removal of Maduro
Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly made trades on Polymarket on the basis of classified information, the justice department says.
Coverage by Political Leaning
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Notable Quotes
"The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino, and you look at what's going on all over the world, in Europe and every place, they're doing these betting things."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation."
— Kash Patel , Politician
"The defendant was entrusted with confidential information about U.S. operations and yet took action that endangered U.S. national security and put the lives of American service members in harm’s way."
— Michael Selig , Executive
"This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation."
— Kash Patel , Politician
"Those entrusted to safeguard our nation’s secrets have a duty to protect them and our armed service members, and not to use that information for personal financial gain."
— Jay Clayton , Executive
"Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply."
— Todd Blanche , Politician
"It was like Pete Rose betting on his own team."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"Let Marco make his Polymarket bet on that first."
— JD Vance , Politician
"That's like Pete Rose betting on his own team."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable."
— Kash Patel , Politician
"We're a respected country again like, maybe, like never before."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"Those entrusted to safeguard our nation’s secrets have a duty to protect them and our armed service members, and not to use that information for personal financial gain."
— Jay Clayton , Executive
"This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation."
— Kash Patel , Politician
"Was he betting that they would get him or they wouldn’t get him?"
— Donald Trump , Politician
"Our 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."
— James C Barnacle jnr , Other
"This involved a US soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation."
— Kash Patel , Politician
"I don’t know about it ... that’s like Pete Rose betting on his own team."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"The whole world unfortunately has become somewhat of a casino."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"This involved a US soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation."
— Kash Patel , Politician
Key People
Wife of Nicolás Maduro and involved in the Venezuelan government.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
Son of former President Donald Trump and businessman.
A US special forces soldier charged for insider trading involving classified information.
FBI assistant director in charge.
Current US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
JD Vance is a United States Senator from Ohio and a prominent figure in conservative politics.
The former Chief of Staff for the Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Nicolas Maduro is the President of Venezuela.
The President of Venezuela, involved in a long-standing political crisis.
Todd Blanche is the nominee for attorney general and a former personal lawyer to Donald Trump.
Locations
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All Coverage
Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly made trades on Polymarket on the basis of classified information, the justice department says.
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. special forces soldier, has been charged with using classified information about a military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to profit over $400,000 through bets placed on the prediction market site Polymarket.
Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke was arrested for allegedly using classified intelligence related to a U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to place bets on a prediction market, Polymarket.
A U.S. special forces soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, has been arrested for betting on the secret military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, violating non-disclosure agreements by wagering $32,000 on the outcome in online prediction markets.

A U.S. Army soldier involved in the capture of Nicolas Maduro has been charged with making $400,000 by betting on the removal of the ousted Venezuelan leader, the Justice Department said on Thursday.
A U.S. soldier was charged on Thursday with using classified information about the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to place bets on prediction markets and earn more than $400,000.
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a master sergeant with US Army Special Forces, was charged for making wagers on Polymarket based on confidential government information.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday said it had charged a U.S. Army soldier who allegedly made $400,000 by betting on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Federal authorities on Thursday arrested a special forces soldier who was involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for allegedly pocketing more than $400,000 by betting on his removal from office.
A US special forces soldier involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was arrested and charged for allegedly betting on that operation, netting him $400,000 in profits.
The United States Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against an active-duty soldier for placing a bet on the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, using classified military information for personal profit.
Gannon Ken Van Dyke was part of the operation to capture Maduro in January and used his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market site Polymarket.
A US soldier who played a role in the January capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is now in custody after allegedly cashing in over $400,000 on wagers about the politician’s removal from office, federal authorities announced on Thursday.
Gannon Ken Van Dyk is accused of using his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market site Polymarket.
A U.S. soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the mission to win more than $400,000 in an online betting market, federal officials announced Thursday.
A U.S. special forces soldier who participated in the raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the operation to win more than $400,000 on the online betting platform Polymarket.
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