Miguel Sernas, a 40-year-old former General Electric (GE) engineer from Mexico City, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal trade secrets from his former employer.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Sernas admitted to conspiring with his business partner and co-defendant, Jean Patrice Delia, to use stolen trade secrets to compete against GE globally.
As part of his plea, Sernas acknowledged that he and Delia, operating as ThermoGen Power Services, utilized the stolen trade secrets, as well as stolen marketing data, pricing information, and other confidential GE documents, to gain an unfair competitive advantage over GE.
Sernas, who is currently in custody, faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on September 16, 2019, by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the FBI, and the prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne A. Myers. It is worth noting that the charges against Delia are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case highlights the serious consequences of stealing trade secrets and the importance of protecting intellectual property. The guilty plea by Sernas serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in similar activities, and demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to prosecuting those who violate the law.
The use of stolen trade secrets to compete against a former employer is a serious offense, and can have significant consequences for both the individual and the company involved. In this case, Sernas and Delia’s actions could have potentially harmed GE’s business and reputation, and may have also undermined the trust and confidence of GE’s customers and partners.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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