by Allan Lengel A Lansing chemist has been convicted of stealing trade secrets from the Coca-Cola Co. and a Tennessee chemical firm to help set up a new business in China, the Justice Department announced. The secrets involved a chemical coating for cans and food containers. Xiaorong You was convicted Thursday in federal court in Greeneville, Tenn., of conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, conspiracy to commit economic espionage, possession of stolen trade secrets, economic espionage and wire fraud. Her complex trial lasted 12 days.
(Photo: Unsplash/Cloris Ying) The 59-year-old chemist, who uses Shannon as an easier-to-say first name, will be sentenced Nov. 1.
A Lansing chemist was convicted Thursday of conspiracy to steal trade secrets, economic espionage and wire fraud, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Xiaorong You, also known as Shannon You, was convicted after a 12-day trial of stealing trade secrets from Coca-Cola and Eastman Chemical Co. when she worked there, according to a DOJ press release.
You stole trade secrets related to information about BPA-free coatings for the inside of beverage cans and set up her own BPA-free coating company in China, according to the DOJ news release. The stolen trade secrets cost nearly $120 million to develop.
You and her Chinese corporate partner, Weihai Jinhong Group, received millions of dollars in government grants in China to support the new company, according to the release.