Former L3Harris Executive Charged with Selling US Cybersecurity Trade Secrets to Russia for $1.3 Million

In addition to financial gain, Williams reportedly sought property and high-end possessions. (Representational)

Federal prosecutors in the United States have charged a former executive of a government cybersecurity contractor with selling sensitive trade secrets to a Russian buyer for $1.3 million.

According to an October 14 court filing in US District Court in Washington, Peter Williams allegedly misappropriated eight trade secrets from two unidentified companies between April 2022 and June 2025, with the intention of transferring this information to a buyer based in Russia.

The court documents do not specify Williams' employer or identify the companies whose proprietary information was allegedly compromised.

However, British business records indicate that Williams served as general manager of L3Harris Trenchant from October 2024 until his resignation on August 21.

L3Harris Trenchant develops specialized hacking tools that support national security operations and maintains contracts with the US government. The company operates as a subsidiary of defense contractor L3Harris, which has declined to comment on the situation.

The possibility that Russia may have acquired knowledge of hacking tools utilized by US and allied intelligence services raises significant concerns about potential vulnerabilities in federal systems and opportunities for adversaries to strengthen their defensive capabilities.

A source familiar with the investigation confirmed that the individual named in the British records is the same Peter Williams referenced in the October 14 legal filing.

Federal prosecutors allege that Williams received $1.3 million from the sale of these secrets and are seeking forfeiture of a Washington, DC residence and various luxury items including watches and jewelry, as detailed in court documents.

TechCrunch, which previously reported on the case, noted on Tuesday that L3Harris Trenchant was investigating a breach involving hacking tools.

Reuters was unable to locate Williams, who is identified as an Australian citizen in UK records and as a US resident in the court filing. Attorneys listed as Williams' legal representatives did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

An arraignment and plea agreement hearing has been scheduled for October 29.

This report has not undergone editing by staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated source.