Gannon Ken Van Dyke faces arraignment for profiting from classified bets on foreign leader's ousting
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 25
Gannon Ken Van Dyke faces arraignment for profiting from classified bets on foreign leader's ousting
5 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 25
Federal prosecutors allege Van Dyke, a 38-year-old U.S. Army soldier, made over $400,000 by betting on Nicolás Maduro's removal using classified information, placing $30,000 in wagers on Polymarket.
Van Dyke allegedly participated in the January operation to capture Maduro, transferring most profits to a foreign crypto account and attempting to delete his Polymarket account. He is scheduled for arraignment in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday.
Active-duty since 2008 and based at Fort Bragg, Van Dyke also invested in North Carolina real estate and planned a tech consulting firm. He reportedly discussed his business ventures but not the windfall with acquaintances.
How did a decorated soldier turn a secret mission into a $400,000 payday?
Will a soldier's insider trading finally force the U.S. to regulate prediction markets?
Why would a special forces soldier risk a 20-year prison sentence for one bet?
What legal precedent will this first-of-its-kind insider trading case set?
Can crypto platforms truly stop national security leaks on their own?