US soldier accused of gambling on Maduro removal due in court
U.S. Army Master Sergeant Gannon Van Dyke pleaded not guilty to charges of using confidential information to profit from bets on the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He is accused of winning $400,000 through wagers on the prediction market Polymarket, based on his involvement in a military raid that led to Maduro's capture. The case marks the first insider trading prosecution involving a prediction market, with both criminal and civil charges filed against Van Dyke.
- ▪Gannon Van Dyke, a U.S. Army Special Forces master sergeant, pleaded not guilty to fraud charges in Manhattan federal court.
- ▪Van Dyke allegedly placed $33,000 in bets on Polymarket predicting Maduro's removal and U.S. military entry into Venezuela, earning $400,000.
- ▪He was involved in the planning and execution of a January 3, 2026, raid that captured Maduro and his wife, according to prosecutors.
- ▪The Justice Department has filed five criminal counts against Van Dyke, including commodities fraud and wire fraud.
- ▪Polymarket flagged Van Dyke's trading activity to authorities and cooperated with the investigation.
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US soldier pleads not guilty to charges of gambling on Maduro ousterSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished Apr 28, 2026, 06:23 PMUpdated Apr 29, 2026, 03:03 AMListenNEW YORK, April 28 - The U.S. Army soldier charged with winning $400,000 by using confidential information to bet on the removal of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to fraud charges on Tuesday.Gannon Van Dyke, 38, rose to stand as he entered the plea in U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett's courtroom in Manhattan."Not guilty, your honor," said Van Dyke, sporting a shaved head and wearing a blazer, jeans and brown shoes.Last week, Van Dyke was arrested on a federal indictment charging him with placing $33,000 in bets on prediction market Polymarket between December 27,…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.