Atlanta, February 7:

The government said in court papers today it believes a former Coca-Cola secretary convicted of conspiring to steal trade secrets from the beverage giant should be jailed immediately because she poses a flight risk.

In a motion filed in US District Court in Atlanta, assistant US attorney Byung J Pak said clothing, prescription medication, papers and other personal items were found in Joya Williams’ Mustang during a search after a fire destroyed her apartment on Friday. The fire, which has been ruled accidental by local officials, occurred nearly 90 minutes after the guilty verdict was reached in court.

“With no place to live, with no money, with a significant amount of debt, and with the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence, the defendant poses a serious risk of flight,” Pak argued in the motion. Pak also indicated that while local fire investigators deemed Friday’s fire was caused accidentally by an unattended candle, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives continues to investigate the incident.

“Residents from the Hunters Pointe apartment complex reported that they heard what sounded like an argument from Williams’ apartment and items may have been thrown through her apartment windows,” Pak wrote. Pak said that Williams made inconsistent statements to investigators.