This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst 2006. To crown Joya as one of the laughingstocks of the corporate world this year or to see other dumbest moments in business, go here.
It's a really tough year for mediocre corporate scandals, you know the ones: options backdating, restated earnings. Yawn. No other year in memory has been so excellent as fodder for the BloggingStocks-sponsored musical (you know we're going to win a dozen Tonys): The Really Stupid Corporate Spy Who Loved Me. It's kind of a mouthful, but just wait until you hear it set to music.
And wait until you get to the opening scene, Amey Stone has already written some of the dialogue. It's set in a park somewhere in the city of Atlanta (envision: 1996 Olympics logo still visible in the background). There are some people in dark trench coats and red polo shirts, handing off a box of Girl Scout cookies to some people in dark trench coats and bright blue polo shirts. Inside? The secret recipe to Coca-Cola.
The real story is nearly just as much fun. Joya Williams, an administrative assistant, called someone at PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) claiming to be a Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) executive. Named "Dirk." [Shivers of love over how adorably stupid this all is!] She offered to sell a number of trade secrets, including a sample of a new Coca-Cola beverage, to the company's rivals. The FBI then got involved and stuffed cash in a box of Girl Scout cookies to do the handoff. Now? The poor woman's going on trial for stealing trade secrets and confidential documents in January.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-14-2006 @ 8:50PM
Jim Bryant said...
Pepsi probably already had the secrets she was trying to sell...lol
12-14-2006 @ 10:50PM
sandy welch said...
what girl dosen't love coca-cola and cookies!?
12-14-2006 @ 10:31PM
pam said...
What happened to the parents that were supposed to instill good work ethics and honesty?
1-08-2007 @ 4:27AM
george said...
Hey, I just think its bad the fbi charged this woman. She probably was just trying to get diaper money. HA Coke, you still rule, even though you hire stupid people.
12-15-2006 @ 12:18AM
charles r. mckinney said...
i cant tell the difference! worked in several resteurents in 1960s,mixed coke & pepsi syrup all the time NEVER a complaint!
12-15-2006 @ 12:28AM
Jess said...
Pepsi is better anyway. Rule of thumb is...diet pepsi is better than diet coke, but regular coke is better than regular pepsi. I've stopped drinking coke since they made their bottles smaller...what the f--- was that all about? Paying the same price for a bottle of soda that's a half liter smaller....bad move on coke's part.
12-15-2006 @ 12:55AM
william L McNulty said...
Billy Clinton got away with it, society is still out on the question of "VAlUES"
If we are not Punishing the powerful then its a free for all!
Oh but what about Martha Stwart? She Lied and went to prison
OK Double Standards ::::Got it.
12-15-2006 @ 12:55AM
William L McNuty said...
Billy Clinton Lied
Martha Stewart Lied
Who, went to prison! Thats your answer, don't lie about where you got your stock tips, even if you get your tips under the desk.
12-15-2006 @ 5:55PM
Michele said...
I heard they still put cocaine in Coke. That's why it's the biggest seller!Michele from Texas
12-16-2006 @ 10:03PM
Scott said...
#5.. I agree Pepsi is better, but your rule of thumb is backwards. Diet Pepsi sucks. Just my opinion.
12-18-2006 @ 5:09PM
Seth A Squires said...
What do Bill Clinton and Martha Stewart have to do with this case? And what do parental duties have to do with industrial espionage? This is not an example of the dissolution of morals in our society, as selling trade secrets is as old as trade itself in this country. The real story is that Pepsico executives went to the FBI rather than buying the information, as thousands of executives with fine parents have done since the industrial revolution. Where are the parents and teachers who should instill good spelling and capitalization?
12-19-2006 @ 9:46AM
Lou said...
You're both nuts, COKE IS IT!!!!!!!!
12-19-2006 @ 9:49AM
Lou said...
You're both nuts, COKE IS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12-28-2006 @ 7:39AM
Storm Gage said...
If this individual is convicted of trading secrets she should be punished in the strongest way possible - what a very stupid decision on her part if she did this. Further, a horrible example of "crapping in your own backyard."
12-28-2006 @ 10:05AM
Mount N. Do said...
PEPSI & Mountain Dew all the way!! I do like Cherry Coke, but drink Wild Cherry Pepsi whenever possible.
I agree with Seth:
The real story is that Pepsico executives went to the FBI rather than buying the information, as thousands of executives with fine parents have done since the industrial revolution. Where are the parents and teachers who should instill good spelling and capitalization?
12-31-2006 @ 9:36AM
Steve said...
I also agree with Seth. Corporate espionage may be the second oldest profession...we all know what the oldest profession is. In a matter of speaking, Ms Joya Williams, did attempt to prostitute herself by selling not her body, but her knowledge. Cynical as I am, I'm waiting for the race card to fall; when will the Rev Jackson visit FBI headquarters and demand the case be dropped for racial reasons?
3-05-2007 @ 6:18PM
Rob said...
Pepsi probably didn't want to get caught up with something that could have possible been a sting on them if the sale was fake and nothing more than a sting.
At the same time, if it was real they probably didn't want to turn down the secret and then have it sold to someone else.