A US Army soldier on Wednesday (Apr 21) was indicted on federal charges after allegedly using classified information about a secret military operation to capture Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. The soldier, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke by the Justice Department, is accused of taking advantage of his position "to profit off of a righteous military operation." He reportedly walked off with more than $400,000 in winnings based on the top-secret intel. FBI Director Kash Patel called the case a betrayal of fellow service members. "Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable," he said. On X, he confirmed the case and said, "This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation. Here's all we know.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-profiting-off-righteous-operation-how-an-army-soldier-used-secret-war-plans-about-maduro-s-capture-to-make-400-000-on-polymarket-1776993168140">'Righteous operation?': How a US soldier turned secret war plans into a $400,000 payday</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation. Thank you to our agents, Intel teams, and great partners <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a> who protected our war fighters. Investigation ongoing. <a href="https://t.co/Adn4K19r3J">https://t.co/Adn4K19r3J</a>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2047441497616691666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Turning top secret info into a payday</h2>38-year-old Gannon Ken Van Dyke, as per the DoJ, was posted at Fort Bragg and actively participated in the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve. This classified mission resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the predawn hours of January 3.He allegedly used the classified information to bet big on Polymarket, a prediction market where people can bet on real-time events. In total, he placed 13 bets totalling approximately $33,000. When US President Donald Trump announced the success of the mission, the US soldier walked off with approximately $409,881 in profits.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fact-check-will-petrol-diesel-get-25-28-more-expensive-govt-breaks-silence-on-fuel-price-hike-reports-1776927218947">FACT CHECK: Will petrol, diesel get ₹25-28 more expensive? GOI breaks silence on fuel price hike reports</a><h2>Polymarket in murky waters</h2>Polymarket, operated by Blockratize Inc., had been offering binary event contracts on Venezuela and Maduro since 2025. Earlier this year, the platform made the headlines after reports emerged of unusual trading around the Iran strikes, with suspected insiders making millions on contracts tied to the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei.However, Van Dyke's case is the first criminal indictment arising from alleged insider trading on a prediction market.A failed coverupAs Polymarket became a flashpoint, the soldier tried to cover his tracks, but failed. According to the DoJ, he withdrew the bulk of his winnings and transferred most of them to a foreign cryptocurrency vault before depositing them into a newly created online brokerage account. He also attempted to close his Polymarket account. Van Dyke now faces up to 40 years in prison for his various crimes.&nbsp;

A US soldier allegedly turned a top-secret mission into a $400,000 payday. A federal indictment claims classified intel on Nicolás Maduro’s capture was used to bet big on Polymarket before the news broke.

What did he know, and how did he try to cover it up? Scroll down to find out.

A US Army soldier on Wednesday (Apr 21) was indicted on federal charges after allegedly using classified information about a secret military operation to capture Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. The soldier, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke by the Justice Department, is accused of taking advantage of his position "to profit off of a righteous military operation." He reportedly walked off with more than $400,000 in winnings based on the top-secret intel. FBI Director Kash Patel called the case a betrayal of fellow service members. "Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable," he said. On X, he confirmed the case and said, "This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation. Here's all we know. Also read | 'Righteous operation?': How a US soldier turned secret war plans into a $400,000 payday

A US soldier allegedly turned a top-secret mission into a $400,000 payday. A federal indictment claims classified intel on Nicolás Maduro’s capture was used to bet big on Polymarket before the news broke.What did he know, and how did he try to cover it up? Scroll down to find out.

US soldier faces 40 years in prison for making $400k on Polymarket using classified intel about Maduro capture

How did a US soldier allegedly turn a top-secret mission into a $400,000 payday? A serviceman tied to a classified operation involving Nicolás Maduro is now facing fraud and espionage-linked charges.

What exactly did he know, and how did he game the system? Scroll down to find out.

How did a US soldier allegedly turn a top-secret mission into a $400,000 payday? A serviceman tied to a classified operation involving Nicolás Maduro is now facing fraud and espionage-linked charges.What exactly did he know, and how did he game the system? Scroll down to find out.

'Profiting off righteous operation': How an army soldier used secret war plans about Maduro's capture to make $400,000 on Polymarket

Polymarket, a prediction market that lets users wager on a variety of real-life happenings, has come under fire for allowing people to place bets on the fate of an American F-15 fighter pilot who went MIA during the Iran war. The pilot, who has since been rescued, was shot down over Iran on Good Friday (Apr 3). The wager was eventually removed after a Massachusetts congressman called it out publicly for insensitivity.<h2>What was the wager?</h2>The wager was on whether the downed American pilot would be found alive and, if so, when. Polymarket, one of the more prominent prediction market sites, briefly hosted a market asking users to bet on what date the US would confirm the missing F-15 pilot had been located. The airman had been shot down over Iran during an active search and rescue operation. At the time the market was live, 63 per cent of bettors were wagering the pilot wouldn't be found until Saturday.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/god-supports-iran-war-trump-touts-peacemaker-status-once-again-claims-to-have-ended-india-pakistan-conflict-1775528549304">God supports Iran war? Trump once again claims to have ended India-Pak conflict</a>It was removed on Friday after Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and combat veteran, called it out publicly. However, the fact that it went up in the first place says something about where the lines are — or aren't — on these platforms right now.The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet with two pilots aboard was shot down over southern Iran, the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces soon after, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him. Reports suggested that the second crew member from the downed F-15E has now been recovered after a "heavy firefight".<h2>This is DISGUSTING</h2>Moulton, a combat veteran, posted a screenshot on X with a short caption: "This is DISGUSTING." He pointed out that the page had gone up while the search was still ongoing, and the pilot's status was entirely unknown. "They could be your neighbour, a friend, a family member," he wrote. "And people are betting on whether or not they'll be saved."He also pointed out that President Donald Trump is an investor in the "dystopian death market."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">There is an ongoing search and rescue operation for a missing American service member whose plane was shot down over Iran. Their safety is unknown. They could be your neighbor, a friend, a family member. And people are betting on whether or not they&#39;ll be saved. This is… <a href="https://t.co/sMuS1x6YbL">pic.twitter.com/sMuS1x6YbL</a>&mdash; Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) <a href="https://twitter.com/sethmoulton/status/2040134223869206968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Polymarket pulled the wager and acknowledged it shouldn't have gone live. "It should not have been posted, and we are investigating how this slipped through our internal safeguards," the company said. It did not offer much beyond that.Moulton wasn't satisfied. "Taking down this particular bet after I called it out can only be the first step," he said, noting that 219 other war-related betting markets remained active on the platform. He called for all of them to be removed.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-for-a-bright-future-iran-asks-youth-to-form-human-chains-around-power-plants-as-trump-threatens-destruction-in-four-hours-alireza-rahimi-1775524366456">Iran asks youth to form 'human chains' around power plants amid Trump threat</a><h2>A twisted bet</h2>Polymarket claims it doesn't profit from geopolitical markets, though that framing has done little to quiet the criticism. The episode is part of a larger, uglier story unfolding around prediction markets and the Iran war. Earlier this month, six suspected insiders were found to have made roughly $1.2 million on contracts tied to strikes on Iran — including an alleged $550,000 payout connected to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Should people be allowed to bet on a missing soldier’s fate? Polymarket faces backlash after users wagered on a downed US pilot’s rescue timeline, prompting outrage from Seth Moulton. Where do we draw the line?

Scroll down to read more.

Polymarket, a prediction market that lets users wager on a variety of real-life happenings, has come under fire for allowing people to place bets on the fate of an American F-15 fighter pilot who went MIA during the Iran war. The pilot, who has since been rescued, was shot down over Iran on Good Friday (Apr 3). The wager was eventually removed after a Massachusetts congressman called it out publicly for insensitivity. What was the wager? The wager was on whether the downed American pilot would be found alive and, if so, when. Polymarket, one of the more prominent prediction market sites, briefly hosted a market asking users to bet on what date the US would confirm the missing F-15 pilot had been located. The airman had been shot down over Iran during an active search and rescue operation. At the time the market was live, 63 per cent of bettors were wagering the pilot wouldn't be found until Saturday. Also read | God supports Iran war? Trump once again claims to have ended India-Pak conflict It was removed on Friday after Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and combat veteran, called it out publicly. However, the fact that it went up in the first place says something about where the lines are — or aren't — on these platforms right now. The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet with two pilots aboard was shot down over southern Iran, the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces soon after, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him. Reports suggested that the second crew member from the downed F-15E has now been recovered after a "heavy firefight". This is DISGUSTING Moulton, a combat veteran, posted a screenshot on X with a short caption: "This is DISGUSTING." He pointed out that the page had gone up while the search was still ongoing, and the pilot's status was entirely unknown. "They could be your neighbour, a friend, a family member," he wrote. "And people are betting on whether or not they'll be saved." He also pointed out that President Donald Trump is an investor in the "dystopian death market."

Should people be allowed to bet on a missing soldier’s fate? Polymarket faces backlash after users wagered on a downed US pilot’s rescue timeline, prompting outrage from Seth Moulton. Where do we draw the line?Scroll down to read more.

Betting on a missing US pilot? Polymarket apologises for ‘DISGUSTING’ wager amid Iran war

An Israeli Air Force reservist is suspected of having exploited classified military information to place bets on the Polymarket prediction site related to Israel’s war with Iran in 2025, a Tel Aviv court revealed on Thursday. According to the indictment, the reservist, who served as a major, shared information on the timing of Israel’s opening strike in June 2025 with a civilian acquaintance, who then placed online bets for profit. Prosecutors allege the pair earned $162,663 from a successful wager, which they agreed to split evenly, reported Times of Israel. Israeli news website, Ynet reported that the civilian transferred the reservist’s share via a digital wallet using cryptocurrency. The reservist and civilian continued betting on subsequent events, including the end date of the 12-day conflict, until their arrests last month.<h2>Court Proceedings and Military Response</h2>&nbsp;The pair were indicted on severe security offences, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors requested that they remain in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings. Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the suspects’ identities or the specifics of the bets, as the case was initially under a court-imposed gag order. This restriction was partially lifted on Thursday evening after a request by several Hebrew-language media outlets, allowing key details to be published, though the defendants’ names remain undisclosed. According to reports, the reservist briefed his acquaintance on the planned operation a day before it began on June 13, and similar alleged information-sharing occurred regarding an attack in Yemen later in September 2025. This bet won the pair thousands of dollars. The Israel Defense Forces described the matter as ‘grave’ but stressed that ‘no operational harm was caused.’ The IDF further stated, “This constitutes a severe ethical failure and a clear crossing of a red line… the alleged actions are not in line with IDF values and what is expected of servicemembers.”&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-toys-compared-to-ours-trump-mocks-uk-aircraft-carrier-questions-britain-s-commitment-in-iran-conflict-i-said-don-t-bother-1774539771473">‘Toys compared to ours’: Trump mocks UK aircraft carrier, questions Britain’s commitment in Iran conflict</a><h2>Context: Polymarket and Security Concerns</h2>&nbsp;Polymarket is one of the world’s largest prediction markets, allowing users to place bets using cryptocurrency, debit or credit cards, and bank transfers. The platform has faced scrutiny over insider trading and manipulation, with users reportedly profiting from early knowledge of military or political events, including US-Iran hostilities and actions in Venezuela. Earlier this month, The Guardian reported that newly created accounts had placed almost $70,000 on a US ceasefire with Iran, standing to win nearly $820,000, apparently based on insider knowledge.&nbsp;

According to reports, the reservist briefed his acquaintance on the planned operation a day before it began on June 13, and similar alleged information-sharing occurred regarding an attack in Yemen later in September 2025. This bet won the pair thousands of dollars. 

An Israeli Air Force reservist is suspected of having exploited classified military information to place bets on the Polymarket prediction site related to Israel’s war with Iran in 2025, a Tel Aviv court revealed on Thursday. According to the indictment, the reservist, who served as a major, shared information on the timing of Israel’s opening strike in June 2025 with a civilian acquaintance, who then placed online bets for profit. Prosecutors allege the pair earned $162,663 from a successful wager, which they agreed to split evenly, reported Times of Israel. Israeli news website, Ynet reported that the civilian transferred the reservist’s share via a digital wallet using cryptocurrency. The reservist and civilian continued betting on subsequent events, including the end date of the 12-day conflict, until their arrests last month. Court Proceedings and Military Response The pair were indicted on severe security offences, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors requested that they remain in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings. Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the suspects’ identities or the specifics of the bets, as the case was initially under a court-imposed gag order. This restriction was partially lifted on Thursday evening after a request by several Hebrew-language media outlets, allowing key details to be published, though the defendants’ names remain undisclosed. According to reports, the reservist briefed his acquaintance on the planned operation a day before it began on June 13, and similar alleged information-sharing occurred regarding an attack in Yemen later in September 2025. This bet won the pair thousands of dollars. The Israel Defense Forces described the matter as ‘grave’ but stressed that ‘no operational harm was caused.’ The IDF further stated, “This constitutes a severe ethical failure and a clear crossing of a red line… the alleged actions are not in line with IDF values and what is expected of servicemembers.” ALSO READ: ‘Toys compared to ours’: Trump mocks UK aircraft carrier, questions Britain’s commitment in Iran conflict Context: Polymarket and Security Concerns Polymarket is one of the world’s largest prediction markets, allowing users to place bets using cryptocurrency, debit or credit cards, and bank transfers. The platform has faced scrutiny over insider trading and manipulation, with users reportedly profiting from early knowledge of military or political events, including US-Iran hostilities and actions in Venezuela. Earlier this month, The Guardian reported that newly created accounts had placed almost $70,000 on a US ceasefire with Iran, standing to win nearly $820,000, apparently based on insider knowledge.

According to reports, the reservist briefed his acquaintance on the planned operation a day before it began on June 13, and similar alleged information-sharing occurred regarding an attack in Yemen later in September 2025. This bet won the pair thousands of dollars.&nbsp;

Military intel for gambling? Israeli air force major charged with using secret Iran war details to win big on Polymarket

polymarket-betting

Polymarket Betting, News on Polymarket Betting, stories on Polymarket Betting, articles on Polymarket Betting, Polymarket Betting stories at Wion, Polymarket Betting news, Polymarket Betting latest news

polymarket betting

US soldier faces 40 years in prison for making $400k on Polymarket using classified intel about Maduro capture

'Righteous operation?': US soldier turns secret war plans into a $400,000 payday

Betting on MIA US pilot? Polymarket apologises for ‘DISGUSTING’ wager | Iran war

Israeli air force major accused of using secret Iran war details to win bets