Coke Leakage Meets Hefty Penalties

May 28, 2007: A former Coca-Cola employee has been jailed for eight years after an FBI-led operation found she was plotting to steal secret Coca-Cola data and sell it to rival PepsiCo for $US1.5 million.

In news that proves Corporates are getting tougher on preventing internal data leakage, the former assistant to the director of global brands at Coke Joya Williams, had been found guilty by an Atlanta jury earlier this year.

The conspiracy was unravelled after Pepsi tipped off Coke about a letter it had received offering Coca-Cola trade secrets to the highest bidder. The tip-off sparked an undercover investigation involving the FBI that led back to Williams and co-defendants Ibrahim Dimson, sentenced to five years prison last week and Edmund Duhaney, yet to be sentenced.

While the Court found it was Dimson who wrote the letter, it was Williams who stole the confidential documents and sample products yet to be launched by Coke. During William’s trial, prosecutors produced video footage of William at Coca-Cola offices, packing the documents into her bag.

A US Attorney labelled the undercover sting a mark of good corporate citizenship. “As the market becomes more global, the need to protect intellectual property becomes even more vital to protecting American companies and our economic growth,” said David E Nahmias.

“This case is an example of good corporate citizenship leading to a successful prosecution, and that unlawfully gaining competitive advantage by stealing another’s trade secrets can lead straight to federal prison.”

Before sentencing, Williams made an apology to Coke, her former boss and her family.

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