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DETROIT - U.S. authorities say they are increasingly on the lookout for the theft of trade secrets as the auto industry becomes more global.
"Theft of trade secrets and cyber-crime is one of the top priorities of the FBI," Special Agent Daniel D. Roberts said in a statement after the Wednesday, July 5, indictment of three former Metaldyne Corp. employees.
The three are accused of selling company secrets to a Chinese competitor.
"In this case of global outsourcing and the highly competitive nature of the worldwide business environment, protecting trade secrets is absolutely critical and at the core of the survival of U.S. companies," Roberts said.
Anne Lockwood, 53; her husband, Michael Haehnel, 51; and Fuping Liu, 42, were charged with several counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of trade secrets and computer fraud.
The three were arraigned in U.S. District Court in Detroit. After pleading innocent, they surrendered their passports and were released...