A Chinese telecommunications company, Hytera Communications Corp. Ltd., has admitted in a federal court in Chicago to conspiring to steal digital mobile radio technology from Motorola Solutions, Inc., based in Illinois.
Hytera pleaded guilty on Monday in the Northern District of Illinois to a federal charge of conspiracy to steal trade secrets. As part of a plea agreement, Hytera could face fines up to $60 million. The court is also expected to order Hytera to make full restitution to Motorola, with the amount to be determined at sentencing.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 6, 2025, before U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr.
According to the plea agreement, individuals acting on behalf of Hytera conspired in 2008 to steal documents and source code related to Motorola's digital mobile radio technology. This information was then used by Hytera to develop products that were sold in Illinois. The plea agreement indicates that these individuals knew or reasonably believed that some of the stolen information was protected and secret, and that taking it could potentially harm Motorola.
The announcement of the plea agreement was made by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI's Chicago Field Office. The government’s case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven J. Dollear, Melody Wells, Thomas P. Peabody, and Wesley Morrissette.