Federal prosecutors have charged a former executive of a U.S. government contractor with stealing and selling classified cyber intelligence trade secrets to a buyer in Russia for $1.3 million, in what officials warn could represent a major national security breach.
According to an October 14 filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Peter Williams is accused of stealing eight trade secrets from two unnamed companies between April 2022 and June 2025, allegedly intending to sell them to a Russian-based client.
While the court documents do not name his employer, British corporate filings identify Williams as the former general manager of L3Harris Trenchant, a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies (LHX.N) — a major U.S. defense and intelligence contractor that develops advanced cyber and hacking tools for national security operations.
L3Harris Technologies declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors allege Williams personally profited from the sale, using the proceeds to purchase luxury watches, jewelry, and a home in Washington, D.C., all of which the government now seeks to seize through forfeiture.
A source familiar with the investigation confirmed that the Peter Williams listed in British records is the same individual named in the U.S. criminal filing.
Investigators fear that the stolen trade secrets could allow Russia to access or replicate U.S. cyber tools, potentially compromising intelligence operations or bolstering Moscow’s own offensive cyber capabilities.
“It’s a particularly serious breach because these technologies are at the heart of America’s digital defense,” said one former U.S. cybersecurity official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Williams, described in court documents as an Australian citizen residing in the U.S., resigned from L3Harris Trenchant on August 21, 2025, less than two months before prosecutors filed charges.
His arraignment and plea hearing are scheduled for October 29 in Washington, D.C.
Neither Williams nor his attorneys have responded to requests for comment.
L3Harris Trenchant had reportedly begun an internal investigation into a potential leak of its hacking tools earlier this year, though the company has not publicly confirmed whether that probe is related to the criminal case.
If convicted, Williams could face decades in federal prison, and the case may rank among the most damaging cybersecurity breaches involving a U.S. defense contractor in recent years.
Experts warn the incident underscores the persistent insider threat to America’s intelligence community and the vulnerability of critical cyber programs.
“This isn’t just theft for profit,” said one intelligence analyst. “It’s a betrayal that could reshape the balance of power in cyber warfare.”
