Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, INDUSTRY NEWS, TRENDS—Two former Volkswagen Group engineers charged with insider trading, (Jul 28, 2026)
Organizations Mentioned:Rivian Automotive, Inc.
By R. Jason Howard, J.D.
One searched “statute of limitations insider trading,” and a close family member searched “how is insider trading prosecuted?”
An unsealed indictment in the Southern District of New York charges two former Volkswagen Group engineers with insider trading based on their use of material nonpublic information concerning a multi-billion-dollar joint venture with Rivian Automotive, Inc., which led to more than $300,000 in ill-gotten gains (USA v. Stamp, No. 26 CRIM 316 (S.D.N.Y. July 23, 2026)).
The unsealed indictment alleges that between April and July 2024, the two former engineers who were employees of a Volkswagen subsidiary and worked in the United States on temporary assignment from Germany, used their position to gain access to the confidential information and then began purchasing options and equity positions in Rivian.
On June 25, 2025, Rivian and Volkswagen publicly announced their joint venture, and Rivian’s share price rose 23 percent the following day. The pair then sold their Rivian positions, with one realizing approximately $250,000 in profits and the other realizing approximately $50,000 in profits. A close family member of one of the engineers also realized approximately $12,000 in profits.
The pair understood their actions were illegal because eight days prior to the announcement of the joint venture, one searched “statute of limitations insider trading,” and following the announcement the close family member searched, in German, “how is insider trading prosecuted?”
The pair are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of securities fraud under Title 15, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of securities fraud under Title 18, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The case is No. 26 CRIM 316.
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