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

Source: The Verge

Arrest of Gannon Ken Van Dyke

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced Thursday that Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been taken into custody on multiple charges, including the use of confidential government information for personal financial gain.

Background

Van Dyke is alleged to have been directly involved in planning and executing “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a U.S. effort to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In the days leading up to the operation, he reportedly placed a series of bets on the prediction‑market platform Polymarket, purchasing $33,934 worth of “YES” shares that would profit if Maduro were captured.

Charges

The indictment alleges that Van Dyke:

• Used non‑public, confidential government information to inform his Polymarket wagers.
• Earned more than $400,000 from those bets.
• Engaged in fraudulent activities related to the operation.