Man convicted of stealing trade secrets for Chinese competitor

A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems of conspiring to steal company trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.

Prosectors said Chih-Yee Jen, 71, worked at Philips’ Aurora facility, shared confidential company documents with China-based Kunshan GuoLi Electronic Technology Co. and recruited several Philips engineers to join him at a Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.

Two other former Philips engineers, Fince Tendian, 57, of Aurora and Vladimir Nevtonenko, 77, of Arlington Heights pleaded guilty prior to trial. GuoLi vice president Xiaoqin Du, 64, of Suzhou, China and Kunshan Yiyuan Medical Technology Co. were indicted and placed on the federal court’s fugitive calendar.

Fayette County man convicted of attempted sexual exploitation

A federal jury has found a Fayette County man guilty of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.  

Prosecutors said James W. Berner, 46, of Ramsey, used a phone application that wirelessly controlled the then-14-year-old victim’s cell phone camera to record video of the victim showering in December 2024 and January 2025.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 8 at the Benton Courthouse.

Pastor reinstated at St. Sabina in Chicago

The Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase Cupich, has reinstated Father Michael Pfleger to ministry at St. Sabina Parish. Cupich asked Pfleger to step aside last month, following an accusation of alleged sexual abuse of a minor that allegedly occurred more than 30 years ago.

Cupich said an independent review board, the archdiocese’s Office of Child Protection and outside investigators found no reason to believe Pfleger was guilty.

Pfleger said last month that the allegation was “an absolute lie.”

Manufacturing index decines

The Chicago Fed Survey of Economic Conditions Manufacturing Activity Index decreased to +20 in August from +32 in July.

The CFSEC Nonmanufacturing Activity Index decreased to -2 in August from a neutral value in July.