Posted on 07/05/2006 6:48:31 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Three former employees of a US auto parts company have been indicted on charges of stealing company secrets and providing them to a Chinese rival, authorities said.
The Justice Department said that Anne Lockwood, formerly a vice president for sales at Metaldyne, her husband Michael Haehnel, a former Metaldyne engineer and Fuping Lui, an ex-Metaldyne metallurgist were indicted in Detroit, Michigan, on 64 counts.
"Regardless of the highly competitive rough and tumble of today's global automotive industry, stealing is still stealing," US Attorney Stephen J. Murphy said in a statement.
The indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges that the three former Metaldyne employees conspired to steal sensitive manufacturing information from the Michigan-based company and passed the data on to a Chinese competitor, Chongqing Huafu Industry Company, Ltd.
"Today's indictment alleges a case of former and current employees stealing secret and crucial information from a victim company and handing it over to a competitor overseas," Murphy added.
Metaldyne is one of only two automotive parts manufacturers in the world to have developed a system to make powdered metal into large, heavy-duty automotive parts, such as connecting rods, according to officials.
The indictment alleges that both Lockwood and Liu forwarded confidential Metaldyne information on cost, designs, and processes for manufacturing parts to the Chinese manufacturer.
Prosecutors also claimed that after Liu left Metaldyne in 2004, he began working for GKN Sinter Metals, another US-based group, in Shanghai. Prosecutors said Liu then gave confidential information belonging to GKN Sinter to Liaoning Shuguang Automotive Corporation, another Chinese company.
The conspiracy was uncovered following a probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Catch & Release??
ROTFLMAO !
Slap on the wrist time.
If they would've done this 10 years ago they'd get away with it.
Especially if it were missile technology being passed to them.
Geez! Never thought that secrets would be passed!
" The indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges that the three former Metaldyne employees conspired to steal sensitive manufacturing information from the Michigan-based company and passed the data on to a Chinese competitor, Chongqing Huafu Industry Company, Ltd.""
Where is Wee Willie, and Sandy Burgler, and Ron Brown, all when we need them!
I'd feel positive that the beginnings of this transferred info came under their watch!
I am pretty sure I can tell you were Ron Brown is. Its pretty hot there and it smells of sulfur.
And he won’t be coming back.
I certainly hope they didn't use any secret wire taps or other clandestine ways to catch them. I guess the NYT will tell us if they did.
I doubt these folks gave that informationa away for free. Whoever paid for it is just as guilty. Will they be charged, too.?
: )
After what BlowJobBilly gave the Chinese for campain cash for Hitlerys run....don't see why these amatures should even be arrested.
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