US prosecutors have accused Peter Williams, a former executive at a defence contracting firm, of stealing and selling sensitive cyber intelligence trade secrets to a Russian buyer for $1.3 million a case that has triggered alarm over potential national security risks.
According to an indictment filed on October 14 in the US District Court for Washington, D.C., Williams allegedly misappropriated eight classified trade secrets from two unidentified companies between April 2022 and June 2025. The stolen data, prosecutors said, involved advanced hacking technologies used by American intelligence agencies.
Though court filings did not name his employer, British corporate records identify Williams as the former general manager of L3Harris Trenchant, a cyber-operations subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies (LHX.N) one of the United States’ top defence and intelligence contractors. The company declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors allege that Williams sold the stolen materials to a buyer based in Russia and used the proceeds to purchase high-end items, including luxury watches, jewelry, and a residence in Washington, D.C. The government is now seeking forfeiture of those assets.
A source close to the case confirmed that the Peter Williams listed in UK business filings is the same person charged in the US court documents.
The revelation has heightened concern within the intelligence community that Russia may have gained access to critical cyber tools used in American and allied defence operations.
Experts fear such access could enable Moscow to enhance its digital defences or launch new cyber offensives against Western interests.
Williams, an Australian citizen and US resident, reportedly resigned from L3Harris Trenchant on August 21, 2025, just weeks before the criminal complaint was filed.
He has not commented publicly, and his legal team has not responded to media inquiries. His arraignment and plea hearing are scheduled for October 29.
This case represents one of the most serious breaches of a US cyber defence contractor in recent years.
Analysts say it underscores the persistent vulnerability of government-linked firms to insider threats especially in an era where cyber espionage is a defining element of global power competition.
“This is not just about one executive’s greed,” said a senior intelligence analyst in Washington.
“It’s about the real possibility that Russia now holds critical information capable of compromising US intelligence operations.”
L3Harris Trenchant had previously investigated a suspected internal leak involving its proprietary hacking software, but it remains unclear if Williams’ alleged theft was connected to that probe.
If convicted, Williams faces decades in federal prison, alongside heavy financial penalties and forfeiture orders.
The Department of Justice said the investigation remains ongoing, with further indictments possible as authorities trace the network of transactions linked to the $1.3 million payment.