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Former head of L3Harris Trenchant admits guilt for providing zero-day exploits to a Russian intermediary

Former head of L3Harris Trenchant admits guilt for providing zero-day exploits to a Russian intermediary

Bitget-RWA2025/10/29 19:33
By:Bitget-RWA

Peter Williams, who previously served as general manager at defense firm L3Harris, has admitted guilt to charges of selling surveillance equipment to a Russian intermediary known for purchasing “cyber tools,” the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday. 

“Over a span of three years, Williams stole materials from his employer, a U.S. defense contractor. These included software focused on national security, with at least eight highly sensitive and protected cyber-exploit modules,” the DOJ stated in a press release. “These tools were intended solely for use by the U.S. government and select allied nations.”

TechCrunch was first to report, based on accounts from four former Trenchant staff, that the company was probing a breach involving its hacking tools. Prosecutors now allege Williams used his privileged access to the company’s secure systems to take the cyber exploit modules.

Williams led Trenchant, an L3Harris division specializing in spyware, exploits, and zero-day vulnerabilities—security flaws unknown to software creators. Trenchant’s surveillance products are sold to government agencies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., and the U.K., collectively known as the Five Eyes alliance. Trenchant was established after L3Harris acquired two Australian sister firms, Azimuth and Linchpin Labs, in 2019; both companies developed and sold zero-day exploits to Five Eyes countries. 

According to the DOJ, Williams, a 39-year-old Australian national living in Washington, D.C., sold these exploits to an unnamed Russian intermediary, who promised to pay Williams millions in cryptocurrency. Prosecutors allege that Williams signed agreements with the broker, which included an upfront payment for the exploits and ongoing payments for continued support. 

The prosecutors did not disclose the identity of the Russian broker, but noted that the broker advertises itself as a reseller of exploits to various clients, including the Russian government. 

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U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated on Wednesday that the broker who purchased exploits from Williams is involved in “the next generation of global arms trafficking.” Pirro said Williams’ actions resulted in more than $35 million in damages to Trenchant. 

“Williams violated the trust of both the United States and his employer by stealing and then selling software related to intelligence,” said U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His actions were intentional and deceptive, putting national security at risk for his own benefit.”

Sara Banda, a spokesperson for L3Harris, declined to provide a statement when contacted by TechCrunch on Wednesday.

Williams’ legal representatives did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

On October 14, U.S. authorities accused Williams—known in the cybersecurity field as “Doogie”—of selling proprietary information to a Russian buyer, without specifying the nature of the secrets or the company involved. A court document from mid-October states Williams received $1.3 million for the exploits. 

Williams has admitted guilt to two counts of stealing trade secrets, each carrying a potential 10-year prison term. Prosecutors said his sentencing is scheduled for January 2026. 

Patrick Gray, host of Risky Business and a journalist, reported that Williams is currently under house arrest in the Washington, D.C. area. Gray also mentioned that Williams previously worked for the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the nation’s primary signals intelligence agency. 

When previously contacted by TechCrunch, an ASD spokesperson declined to discuss Williams, citing ongoing law enforcement proceedings. 

Last week, TechCrunch revealed that Williams had dismissed a Trenchant developer earlier this year over suspicions of leaking Chrome zero-days. The former employee told TechCrunch he never had access to those tools, as his work focused on iOS zero-days. Several former colleagues corroborated his statement.

“I know I was made a scapegoat. I wasn’t responsible. It’s straightforward,” the exploit developer told TechCrunch. “All I did was work extremely hard for them.” 

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Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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