CLEVELAND (AP) -- A former research and development employee at specialty chemicals company Lubrizol Corp. is accused of selling trade secrets to a competitor in South Korea, federal officials said.
Kyung Kim, 62, of Broadview Heights, was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court with theft of trade secrets and conspiracy, said assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roberts. No court date has been set.
Kim's lawyer, Richard Lillie, declined to comment Thursday on the charges but said Kim has been cooperating with authorities.
The charges allege that Kim had at least 17 meetings with co-conspirators to provide information about Lubrizol trade secrets to SK Chemicals in Seoul, South Korea.
The co-conspirators would provide Kim with envelopes of $10,000 in cash at each meeting, prosecutors said.
Lubrizol's main products are additives for engine oils and industrial lubricants. Lubrizol, based in Wickliffe, has about 7,500 employees internationally.
