Last year, Ph.D. chemistry Xiaorong You was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and pay a $200,000 fine for trade secret theft. Pretty serious!
Dr. You had access to BPA-free can coating technologies while she worked at Coca-Cola and Eastman Chemical. She took the technology to China and used it to set up a new company with Chinese partner Weihai Jinhong Group. The new company received millions of dollars in Chinese government grants.
Dr. You was charged with various violations including trade secret theft, economic espionage and conspiracy to commit economic espionage, possession of stolen trade secrets, and wire fraud.