A Google software engineer has been arrested in the United States after allegedly using confidential company data to place prediction bets that earned him more than $1 million. Michele Spagnuolo, an Italian citizen who worked at Google, used internal search trend information from the company to place bets on the prediction platform Polymarket involving singer D4vd, who is currently jailed in a murder case.
According to a federal criminal complaint unsealed in New York on Wednesday, Spagnuolo accessed non-public “Year in Search” data through his role at Google and used the information to make profitable wagers before the results became publicly known. Spagnuolo used a Polymarket account named “AlphaRaccoon” to place bets predicting D4vd would become one of “Google’s Top 5 Most Searched People of 2025” and even the number one searched person of the year.
At the time, Polymarket gave almost no chance of D4vd topping the rankings. However, Google’s internal search data had already shown that the singer had overtaken Kendrick Lamar as the most searched person of 2025. Using that insider information, Spagnuolo placed bets worth less than $1,000 and later collected around $1.2 million in winnings.
Federal prosecutors also accused him of trying to hide where the money came from. They said Spagnuolo “took deliberate steps to conceal his unlawful use of nonpublic information by attempting to obscure the source and ownership of his unlawful proceeds.” Spagnuolo was arrested on Wednesday and charged with wire fraud, commodities fraud and money laundering. He appeared before a federal magistrate judge but did not enter a plea. He was later released on a $2.25 million bond.
The case has also drawn attention because of D4vd’s criminal case. The singer is currently in custody after being accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in April 2025. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge. It is not yet confirmed whether D4vd was involved in the betting scheme or had any connection to Spagnuolo’s actions.
Broader Implications of the Case
This incident raises significant questions about data security and insider trading in the context of prediction markets. Polymarket, a decentralized platform, allows users to bet on events ranging from sports to politics. The use of non-public corporate data to gain an unfair advantage could lead to stricter regulations and oversight of such platforms.
Google has not yet commented on the arrest, but the case highlights the potential misuse of internal data by employees. The company may face scrutiny over its data access policies and monitoring practices.
The arrest also underscores the growing intersection of technology, finance, and law enforcement. As prediction markets gain popularity, authorities are likely to increase vigilance against insider trading and fraud.
