Google employee made millions by sharing 'Google Confidential' information on prediction market Polymarket; charged with insider trading

Google’s software engineer has been charged for insider trading. The US prosecutors have charged Michele Spangnuolo, software engineer at Google with insider trading after he allegedly used the company’s confidential information to make more than n $1.2 million in profits on the prediction market platform Polymarket. According to the complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court, Spagnuolo traded under the alias “AlphaRaccoon”. Between October and December 2025, he allegedly accessed Google’s internal data systems marked “Google Confidential” and placed bets on Polymarket tied to Google’s business outcomes. Prosecutors say he risked nearly $2.75 million and profited once the information became public.

Charges filed against Google’s software engineer Michele Spangnuolo

Spangnuolo, who resides in Switzerland, faces charges of commodities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. He was presented before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in the Southern District of New York.

US Attorney Jay Clayton said, “Today’s charges reinforce a decades-old message: corporate insiders cannot use confidential business information to turn a profit in our markets. As alleged, Spagnuolo violated the duties he owed to his employer and used Google’s confidential business information to make more than $1.2 million in trading profits on Polymarket. Insider trading compromises the integrity of our markets, and the American people want this greed-driven conduct investigated and prosecuted.”

FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. added: “Spagnuolo allegedly abused his elevated access to confidential trends to place bets with nonpublic information and receive more than one million dollars in unlawful profits.”

Access to Google’s confidential data

The court fillings also state that Spagnuolo had access to Google’s internal software tools that displayed sensitive data under a “Google Confidential” banner. Despite certifying his understanding of Google’s confidentiality and ethics policies, he allegedly misused this access to inform his trades.