The confidential information was related to the company's advances in flexographic printing plate technology, officials said.
NEWARK -- An East Brunswick man was arrested Friday on charges he stole about 20,000 confidential files from his employer to open a consulting business after his retirement, federal authorities said.
This file photo from February 2015 shows the entrance to the DuPont Co.'s Chambers Works in the Deepwater section of Pennsville Township. (Bill Gallo Jr. | For NJ.com)Anchi Hou, 61, a retired employee of DuPont, was charged was theft of trade secrets after allegedly copying and stealing the files from the company's Parlin manufacturing facility, acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick said.
Hou is accused of stealing the proprietary information during the fall and summer of 2016, in advance of his December retirement, authorities said.
The files included formulas, data, and customer information related to developments in flexographic printing plate technology, an advanced form of printing, authorities said.
He allegedly took pictures in restricted areas of DuPont's plant, and transferred stolen files from his work computer to his personal computer, officials said.
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Hou admitted to DuPont executives he stole the data to help bolster a consulting business he formed in 2016 and planned to run after retiring, authorities said. The alleged theft was investigated by the FBI.
"Some of the stolen files include information that DuPont considers trade secrets developed by its employees over the course of the past 40 years and which are critical to its technical, economic, and business operations," authorities said in the release.
Hou, who is scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court Friday, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of the theft of trade secrets charge, officials said.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.