I / Atlanta May 23, 2007A former Coca-Cola secretary convicted of conspiring to steal trade secrets from the world's largest beverage maker was sentenced today to 8 years in federal prison.Joya Williams, 42, had faced up to 10 years in prison on the single conspiracy charge in a failed scheme to sell the materials to rival Pepsi for at least $1.5 million. She was convicted February two following a jury trial in US District Court in Atlanta, where The Coca-Cola Co is based."This is the kind of offense that cannot be tolerated in our society," US District Judge J Owen Forrester said in imposing sentence.A co-defendant, Ibrahim Dimson, was sentenced to five years in prison. Forrester's sentence for Williams was higher than the 63 months to 78 months recommended by federal prosecutors and contained in sentencing guidelines for the judge to consider.He said the seriousness of the crime necessitated a departure from the guidelines, which federal judges are not bound by.Forrester also largely ignored a tearful apology by Williams, which was the first time she acknowledged what she did. "I just wanted to say that I'm not a bad person," Williams told the judge before he imposed sentence.
