Former Goldman Sachs computer programmer Sergey Aleynikov, arrested nearly 2 years ago, received an 8-year prison sentence for stealing secret code used in the investment bank's valuable high-frequency trading system.  Mr. Aleynikov was charged with copying and removing trading code from Goldman before taking a new job at Teza Technologies LLC, a high-frequency trading start-up in Chicago.

    Two-Week Jury Trial.   Aleynikov, 41, a onetime collegiate-level competitive ballroom dancer, was convicted of trade secrets theft and transporting stolen property across state lines on 12/10/10.

"I very much regret the foolish thing of taking information. Part of this information was proprietary to Goldman. I never meant to cause Goldman any harm or harm anyone at the bank." -- Aleynikov told the judge during the sentence proceeding.

U.S. District Judge Denise Cote imposed the sentence of 97 months on Aleynikov;  federal prosecutors had recommended 8 to 10 years.  Aleynikov's lawyer originally had asked for a sentence of probation, but in court yesterday suggested that 2 years was adequate.  Judge Cote revoked the bail of the dual citizen of the U.S. and Russia on 2/28/11 - prior to sentencing - because he was deemed a flight-risk. [NYPost, 3/24]