SIDEBAR--
A sistah was sentenced to eight years in the pokey for conspiring to steal trade secrets from Coca-Cola.
Joya Williams, 42, had faced up to 10 years in prison on the single conspiracy charge in a scheme to sell secrets to rival Pepsi for at least $1.5 million.
Williams was convicted Feb. 2 following a jury trial in Atlanta, where the world's largest beverage maker is based.
U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester ignored a tearful apology and plea for mercy by Williams, which was the first time she actually admitted to committing the offense.
Williams had testified during the trial that she did not commit a crime, and her lawyers asserted repeatedly that she had no criminal past.
At the hearing, however, prosecutors disclosed that Williams has two prior convictions, one involving making false statements related to unemployment insurance.
“Your honor, I have expanded my consciousness through this devastating experience. This has been a very defining moment in my life. I have become infamous when I never wanted to become famous.”It appears Williams stole confidential documents and samples of products that had not been launched by Coca-Cola, then gave them to another co-conspirator.
What they didn't count on was Pepsi tipping-off Coca-Cola that it had received a letter in May 2006 offering hush-hush info to the “highest bidder.” Williams was subsequently kicked to the curb as a secretary to Coke's global brand director.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak told the judge that Williams didn’t deserve leniency. "Choices have consequences and she made those choices.”
COURT'S ADJOURNED!
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