EnvTech Wins Revival of RICO Suit Alleging Trade Secrets Theft

June 9, 2026, 4:52 PM UTC

EnvTech Inc.'s racketeering lawsuit alleging USA DeBusk LLC’s founder directed a scheme to steal competitors’ trade secrets for industrial cleaning methods was revived Tuesday by a federal appeals court.

EnvTech plausibly alleged that Patrick DeBusk engaged in a pattern of trade secret theft in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Judge Dana M. Douglas said for the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

EnvTech alleged DeBusk—also USAD’s chairman and CEO—directed others to steal its proprietary one-step chemical formula and cleaning process for hydrofluoric acid alkylation units in oil refineries. It also said he pursued a ...

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