Summary
A man named Peter Williams, working for an American defense contractor, was sentenced to seven years in prison for selling cybersecurity trade secrets to a Russian broker for cryptocurrency. Williams used the money to buy luxury items and properties. His actions posed a serious risk to national security by potentially allowing unauthorized access to millions of digital devices.
Key Facts
- Peter Williams worked for Trenchant, an intelligence firm linked to U.S. defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.
- Williams sold eight pieces of cybersecurity software and information to a Russian broker for $4 million in cryptocurrency.
- He was paid $1.3 million and used the money for personal luxury purchases.
- Williams continued his illegal activities even after learning he was under FBI investigation.
- The U.S. Department of Justice stated the leaked tools could give Moscow access to millions of digital devices.
- Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of trade secrets on October 29, 2025.
- His actions caused a reported $35 million loss to the defense contractor.
- He was sentenced to 87 months in prison, with three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay significant restitution and forfeitures.
