The former IT director of an optical components company pleaded guilty this week to trying to sell trade secrets contained on backup tapes he stole from his employer.
Brent Woodward admitted that he stole the tapes and then tried to sell the data contained on them to the chief technology officer of JDS Uniphase, a competitor of Woodwards former employer, Lightwave Microsystems. The CTO contacted the FBI, which had agents monitor the communications between the two sides.
Woodward had set up a blind e-mail box to communicate with the JDS Uniphase executive, and the FBI traced the address to Woodward, who eventually admitted to the theft.
Woodward will be sentenced in December and faces up to 10 years in prison.
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