Former L3Harris Exec Pleads Guilty to Selling $35M Cyber Trade Secrets to Russian Broker

Peter Williams, a former general manager at L3Harris's cyber division Trenchant, pleaded guilty to stealing at least eight zero-day exploits and other trade secrets designed exclusively for U.S. government and allied use, and selling them to a Russian broker over a three-year period. Williams, an Australian national residing in Washington, D.C., exploited his access to secure networks and entered contracts to sell these cyber-exploit components to a Russian entity known as Operation Zero, which publicly advertises zero-day exploits to non-NATO countries. He received millions in cryptocurrency payments, which he then used to purchase luxury items, and faces potential prison time of 87 to 108 months, fines, and restitution totaling $1.3 million. The stolen software materials included sensitive cyber weapons used for offense and intelligence operations, and the sale of these secrets poses serious national security risks. Williams was under house arrest pending sentencing, and prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of his assets, including luxury goods and cryptocurrency. Neither L3Harris nor Trenchant face criminal charges related to the case.