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U.S. soldier arrested for $400K Polymarket bet on Maduro capture

newsApr 23, 202612928

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. Army soldier WHO took part in the operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, was arrested after the Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging him with using classified information to place bets on Polymarket. Prosecutors say Van Dyke placed more than $30,000 in wagers and netted over $400,000, and the indictment lists unlawful use of confidential government information, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction. Federal prosecutors are seeking to seize the betting proceeds, and Van Dyke faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted. The case matters because it raises concerns about operational security, shows how classified details could be exploited for personal profit, and could prompt tighter controls on personnel access and prediction markets.

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