CHICAGO – A federal judge has convicted a Chinese-born American of stealing trade secrets but acquitted her of corporate espionage at a trial in Chicago that highlighted fears about China pilfering U.S. company secrets.
Prosecutors accused Hanjuan Jin (HAHN'-wahn JEN') of stealing confidential information from a U.S. cellphone company knowing it'd likely end up with China's military.
The 41-year-old Jin waived her right to a jury trial, leaving it to Judge Ruben Castillo (KAS'-tee-yoh) to announce a verdict at a hearing Wednesday in Chicago.
Prosecutors say Jin rose through Motorola Inc.'s ranks only to steal documents from her Chicago-area Motorola office in 2007. They say she then tried to flee on a one-way ticket to China.
Defense attorneys argued prosecutors overstated the documents' value.
