Google engineer arrested for allegedly using insider data to bet on streamer D4vd's popularity
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- A Google engineer was arrested for allegedly using confidential search data to bet on the popularity of streamer D4vd.
- Prosecutors claim Michele Spagnuolo used insider information on Google searches to make $1.2 million from bets on Polymarket.
- D4vd is not accused of involvement, but his name became central to the case; the streamer is also facing a murder charge.
A Google software engineer has been arrested and charged with fraud for allegedly exploiting insider information about Google search trends to make substantial profits from online bets. Michele Spagnuolo, an Italian citizen, is accused of using confidential "Year in Search" data to bet on streamer D4vd becoming the most searched person on Google in 2025.
Prosecutors allege that Spagnuolo, working at Google, had access to this sensitive data before its public release. The betting market on Polymarket reportedly offered high payouts for D4vd's rise in search popularity, as it was considered unlikely. Spagnuolo allegedly placed several bets through an account named "AlphaRaccoon," capitalizing on this information to the tune of approximately $1.2 million, risking less than $1,000.
The bets were connected to D4vd becoming one of the most searched people on Google in 2025.
Authorities also claim Spagnuolo attempted to conceal the origins of the illicit funds. He was arrested in New York and faces charges including money laundering, wire fraud, and commodities fraud. While he appeared before a federal judge and did not enter a plea, he was later released on a $2.25 million bond as the legal proceedings continue.
The betting market had given almost no chance for D4vd to become the number one searched person on Google that year.
Notably, D4vd himself is not implicated in the betting scheme. However, his online fame became a focal point of the investigation. The streamer and singer is currently facing separate charges of murdering a 14-year-old girl in April 2025, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The case has generated significant online discussion due to its convergence of major tech companies, online gambling, and internet celebrity, with further developments anticipated.
D4vd himself was not accused of taking part in the betting scheme.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Times of India in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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