Taiwan Coast Guard Conducts Rare Drill on Disputed South China Sea Island 
Apple Wins ITC Ruling, Keeping Blood-Oxygen Feature on Apple Watch 
Sam Altman Moves to Dismiss Punitive Damages in Sister's Sexual Abuse Lawsuit 
Argentina Proposes Electoral Reform to Cut Costs and End Mandatory Primaries 
Zelensky Warns Ukraine Could Face Patriot Missile Supply Risks Amid Prolonged Iran Conflict 
Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Extended as U.S. Pushes for Peace Talks 
Trump Urges Congress to Expand Access to Full-Spectrum CBD Products in the U.S. 
U.S. Allows Iran Players in 2026 World Cup but Bars IRGC-Linked Individuals 
Judge Orders Release of Family After Longest ICE Detention Under Trump Administration 
Senate Republicans Push $70B Immigration Funding Plan Amid DHS Shutdown Standoff 
RFK Jr. Faces Scrutiny Over David Geier’s HHS Role and Vaccine Review Work 
Navy Secretary John Phelan Fired Amid Pentagon Leadership Shakeup and Shipbuilding Concerns 
Trump Administration Sues Three States Over Prediction Market Regulations 
U.S. Raises Security Concerns Over Chinese Infrastructure in Argentina Amid Growing Regional Ties 
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Attempting to Block Hawaii's Climate Case Against Oil Giants 
Trump Administration Files Fraud Charges Against Southern Poverty Law Center Over Informant Payments 
Trump Plans to Invite Putin to G20 Summit in Miami, Report Says 
A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier has been charged by the Justice Department for allegedly using classified information to profit from bets on the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. According to federal prosecutors, Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, earned approximately $400,000 through wagers placed on the prediction market platform Polymarket ahead of Maduro’s reported removal from power on January 3.
Authorities say Van Dyke leveraged sensitive, nonpublic government intelligence in the weeks leading up to the operation. He allegedly bet on outcomes including U.S. military involvement in Venezuela and Maduro’s ousting. A grand jury in Manhattan federal court indicted him on multiple charges, including misuse of confidential information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, theft of government data, and unlawful financial transactions.
The case is notable as it may represent the first time U.S. prosecutors have pursued insider trading-style charges tied to a prediction market. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that military personnel are strictly prohibited from exploiting classified information for personal financial gain, highlighting the seriousness of the alleged misconduct.
Polymarket confirmed it cooperated with investigators and referred the suspicious activity to the Justice Department. In a public statement, the platform reiterated its stance against insider trading, calling the arrest evidence that oversight systems are functioning effectively.
Van Dyke, who has served in the Army since 2008 and was most recently stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is also facing civil charges from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Prosecutors allege he played a role in planning and executing the operation involving Maduro’s capture, though details remain limited.
The indictment references a photo uploaded to Van Dyke’s Google account shortly after Maduro was taken to the USS Iwo Jima. The image reportedly shows him armed and in uniform aboard a naval vessel.
The case underscores growing scrutiny of prediction markets, insider trading risks, and the misuse of classified military intelligence in financial activities.
