A former software engineer for a telecommunications company based in suburban Chicago has been indicted for allegedly stealing business trade secrets and attempting to take the documents with her to China. The defendant, Hanjuan Jin, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, allegedly possessed more than 1,000 electronic and paper proprietary documents when she attempted to travel one-way to China in February 2007. The documents were seized by U.S. customs officials at O'Hare International Airport.
Jin, 37, of Schaumburg was released on a $50,000 secured bond after she was arrested on March 7 based on a criminal complaint.
According to the indictment, Jin began working for the suburban Chicago company, identified only as "Company A," in 1998, and she took a medical leave of absence in February 2006. Between June and November 2006, Jin discussed, negotiated and ultimately accepted employment in China with "Company B," where she was to work on developing communications software. After accepting the job in China, Jin advised Company A on Feb. 23, 2007, that she was ready to end her medical leave and return to work with Company A, without advising that she had accepted employment with Company B.
On Feb. 24, 2007, Jin purchased a one-way ticket to China for a flight scheduled to depart on Feb. 28, 2007. Jin returned to Company A on Feb. 26, 2007, purportedly to resume full-time work, and was given no assignments on that day. Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., she allegedly downloaded more than 200 technical documents belonging to Company A on its secure internal computer network. About 9 p.m. that night, she allegedly returned to Company A and downloaded additional documents, as well as removed documents and other materials from the company's offices.
Jin sent her resignation by email to her manager at Company A at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2007. About 10 p.m. that night, she allegedly returned to Company A's offices and downloaded numerous additional technical documents.
As she attempted to depart the next day at O'Hare bound for China, authorities seized numerous materials, some of which were marked confidential and proprietary belonging to Company A. Some of the documents provided a detailed description on how Company A provides a specific interstate communication feature that Company A incorporates into its telecommunications products, including the necessary architecture for the feature, and explain how to expand the network for the feature. The complaint affidavit states that Company A had spent hundreds of millions of dollars on research and development for the proprietary information that Jin allegedly possessed without authorization.
If convicted, each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Posted to the site on 3rd April 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/30289.php