Michael Anthony Bradley, 32, of Oak Park, California, was arrested at Google's offices in Mountain View, California, last week and charged with interfering with commerce by threats and mail fraud, said the United States Attorney's office for Northern California.

Bradley was having his second meeting with Google on Wednesday, allegedly demanding money in exchange for not releasing his program that automates fraudulent "clicks" on cost-per-click ads used by Google. Google pays advertisers for legitimate Web traffic and could have been duped into paying when there was no real activity, officials said.

Bradley, who faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, was released on $50,000 bond and ordered not to use a computer and not to contact Google or its employees. A preliminary hearing was set for April 8.

A Google spokesman declined to comment on the matter, but said Google takes fraud seriously. Bradley did not return a call seeking comment.

Earlier this month, a Dutch citizen pleaded innocent to wire fraud charges in connection with an suspected scheme to sell fake Google shares he said were issued to friends and family in anticipation of an initial public offering, officials said.

Shamoon Rafiq was charged with duping several investors into paying more than $2.8 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

Rafiq could not be reached for comment.

Source: Reuters