ATLANTA (AP) — A former Coca-Cola secretary charged with conspiring to steal trade secrets from the beverage giant was caught on surveillance cameras removing documents from her office in June, sometimes late into the evening.
A Coca-Cola security expert testified yesterday at Joya Williams’ trial that a handful of concealed cameras were installed at the Atlanta company’s headquarters to monitor her movements in different parts of the sprawling complex.
The surveillance video, played for the jury yesterday, was made after Pepsi received a letter in May purportedly from a co-defendant in the case stating that the person was willing to sell confidential Coca-Cola documents and samples of products that Coca-Cola was developing to the highest bidder.
The government has said that Miss Williams stole the materials from the Coca-Cola Co. and gave them to co-defendants Ibrahim Dimson and Edmund Duhaney as part of a conspiracy to sell the items to rival Pepsico Inc. for at least $1.5 million.
Miss Williams faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy. Dimson and Duhaney have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Miss Williams’ lawyer, Janice Singer, told reporters yesterday her client intends to testify in her own defense as early as next week.
The surveillance that Coca-Cola conducted of her is a key part of the government’s evidence.
Coca-Cola security expert Deborah Casey testified yesterday that surveillance cameras were running between June 7, 2006, and July 5, 2006, the day Miss Williams was arrested.
Video images displayed in court show Miss Williams placing papers in her bag, holding drink bottles in her hand, placing bottles on a cart in a confidential document room and stuffing gift tote bags in her personal bag. Some of the instances occurred at night, between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Under cross-examination by the defense lawyer, Ms. Singer, Ms. Casey said that other video clips show Miss Williams doing routine work at her desk, making phone calls and carrying on her normal workday.
She also acknowledged that on June 27, when Miss Williams is seen removing a box full of documents from the building, the box is open and Miss Williams walked past security with it. The lawyer is trying to show there was nothing nefarious about what she was doing.
Miss Williams, who has pleaded not guilty, was fired from her job as an administrative assistant to Coca-Cola’s global brand director after the charges came to light.
Her former boss at Coke, Javier Sanchez Lamelas, testified Thursday that he didn’t believe Miss Williams had the know-how to commit the crime on her own.
The government is expected to wrap up its case Monday, prosecutor Byung J. Pak told U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester.
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