US arrests soldier who allegedly made $400k on Maduro Polymarket bets

Source: The Verge

Background

Nicolas Maduro was photographed in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad on January 5, 2026.

Arrest Details

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced Thursday that Gannon Ken Van Dyke is in custody. Prosecutors allege that Van Dyke used confidential government information for personal gain, making over $400,000 from suspicious Polymarket bets related to the U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Charges

Van Dyke faces several charges, including:

• Conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified information
• Insider trading and securities fraud related to Polymarket “YES” shares
• Participation in “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the planned capture of Maduro

According to the indictment, in the days leading up to the attempted capture, Van Dyke purchased $33,934 worth of “YES” shares on Polymarket that would profit if Maduro were detained.