Google Engineer Charged with Insider Betting Scheme

Michele Spagnuolo, a Google software engineer, was arrested in New York on May 28, 2026 and charged with money laundering, commodities fraud, and wire fraud. Federal prosecutors allege he accessed confidential internal data on Google’s Year-in-Search rankings and used it to place multiple bets on Polymarket, ultimately receiving a payout of approximately $1.2 million.

TMZ

Google compiles annual internal reports ranking the most searched individuals worldwide. The complaint says Spagnuolo viewed the 2025 Year-in-Search data, showing singer D4vd surpassing Kendrick Lamar as the top-searched person. Polymarket lets users wager on outcomes such as “Will D4vd be the #1 searched person on Google this year,” with odds reflecting public expectations.

TMZ

• Michele Spagnuolo – Italian Google software engineer accused of misusing data.

TMZ

• Google – Technology company maintaining the confidential Year-in-Search dataset.

TMZ

• Polymarket – Online prediction-market where the alleged bets were placed.

TMZ

• D4vd – Singer whose search-ranking formed the basis of the wagers.

TMZ

• Early 2025 – Spagnuolo accessed internal Google Year-in-Search data (date undisclosed).

TMZ

• Subsequent weeks – He placed bets on Polymarket on D4vd’s search ranking.

TMZ

• May 28, 2026 – Federal complaint unsealed in New York; Spagnuolo arrested.

TMZ

• May 28, 2026 – Appeared before a federal magistrate judge; no plea.

TMZ

• May 28, 2026 – Released on a $2.25 million bond.

TMZ

• Amount wagered: less than $1,000.

TMZ

• Reported winnings: $1.2 million from the Year-in-Search-related bets.

TMZ

• Bond posted: $2.25 million.

TMZ

• Polymarket’s odds for the “#1 searched person” bet were described as “near-zero probability” before the data became available.

TMZ

Federal prosecutors say Spagnuolo deliberately concealed his unlawful use of nonpublic information and attempted to hide the source and ownership of the proceeds. The indictment charges money laundering, commodities fraud, and wire fraud. A $2.25 million bond was set, and the case will proceed in federal court.

TMZ

• “His alleged bets relating to singer D4vd show Spagnuolo used his "AlphaRaccoon" Polymarket account to vote "yes" for D4vd being ranked in "Google’s Top 5 Most Searched People of 2025" as well as in the "Will d4vd be the #1 searched person on Google this year" poll.” — Federal complaint

TMZ

• “took deliberate steps to conceal his unlawful use of nonpublic information by attempting to obscure the source and ownership of his unlawful proceeds.” — Federal complaint

TMZ

• “He appeared before a federal magistrate judge, during which he did not enter a plea.” — Federal complaint

TMZ

• “assigned a near-zero probability” — Federal complaint

TMZ

The indictment will be adjudicated in federal court, where Spagnuolo must answer the charges of money laundering, commodities fraud, and wire fraud. No further details on plea negotiations or trial dates have been disclosed.

TMZ