10/17/2026
🔒 FELONY FRIDAY: Theft of Trade Secrets 🔒
Every town has that one taco spot. Their salsa has won every cook-off in the Basin. Rival restaurants have tried for years to copy it. Nobody has come close.
The owner mixes it himself before open. The recipe stays locked in his office. Every employee signed a paper promising never to share it.
You quit. On your way out, you snap a picture of that recipe “for memories.”
Congratulations. You may have just committed a felony. 🌶️
Under Texas Penal Code 31.05, it’s a crime to knowingly take, copy, or share someone’s trade secret without permission. That includes formulas, designs, drawings, and processes the owner works to keep private. The locked office and signed promise are what make the difference.
And yes, a photo counts. Making a copy is enough.
This isn’t just theory. Texas’ highest criminal court has upheld convictions for:
🔧 A parts maker who copied competitors’ compressor and turbine drawings and swapped in his own logo (5 years)
💻 Two engineers who copied their work files hours before quitting for a competitor (2 years and $5,000 fines each)
💼 Third-degree felony: 2 to 10 years and up to $10,000
🌎 Second-degree (2 to 20 years) if it’s meant to help a foreign government
Moral of the story: leave the salsa. Take your last paycheck and go.
Facing a charge? Call Sarabia Law Firm. ⚖️
This post is for general education, not legal advice.
