Josh Harry Isler, Trade Secret Theft and FBI Lying, Iowa 2013

Josh Harry Isler, a 55-year-old resident of St. Ansgar, Iowa, has pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets and lying to the FBI. Isler, who was employed by DuPont, admitted to downloading hundreds of electronic files containing proprietary information and trade secrets of DuPont in August 2013.

As part of his guilty plea, Isler admitted that he stole trade secrets of DuPont after accepting an offer of employment from a competitor in the ethanol fuel enzyme business. He transferred the files to an external device and kept them in his new job, also transferring some to his new employer.

Isler further admitted that when he was interviewed by the FBI in November 2013, he falsely denied downloading files containing proprietary information. He faces a maximum combined sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, and eight years of supervised release after any imprisonment.

Isler may also be ordered to pay restitution to DuPont. He was released on bond and sentencing will be set at a later date.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Murphy and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 18-CR-2032-LRR.

With this guilty plea, Isler has acknowledged his involvement in a serious breach of trust, compromising the confidentiality of DuPont’s trade secrets. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, but one thing is clear: Isler’s actions have significant consequences.

As the investigation continues, the public is left wondering how such a breach could occur. Questions surrounding the security measures in place at DuPont and the oversight of its employees will likely be addressed in the coming weeks.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting trade secrets and the severe consequences of their theft. It also highlights the dedication of law enforcement agencies in pursuing those who engage in such activities.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/former-dupont-employee-pleads-guilty-stealing-trade-secrets-and-lying-fbi