Former L3Harris General Manager pleads guilty to selling cyber secrets to Russia

An interesting case of high-level insider espionage has concluded with the guilty plea of Peter Joseph Williams, the former general manager of a sensitive cyber-division at US defense contractor L3Harris. The Australian national admitted to selling at least eight critical zero-day vulnerabilities affecting US national security software to a Russian broker.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) described the act as a "grave betrayal of national security," stating that the theft armed foreign adversaries with sophisticated tools intended exclusively for the U.S. government and its closest allies.

How the scheme worked

According to court documents, Williams, 39, served as the general manager of Trenchant, a L3Harris subsidiary that specialized in developing hacking tools and zero-day exploits for the Five Eyes intelligence network.

Theft

Between 2022 and 2025, Williams exploited his privileged security clearance and access to his employer’s restricted digital infrastructure to copy the sensitive material, which the DOJ estimates caused L3Harris $35 million in losses.

Williams sold the stolen components to a Russian cyber-tools broker (reportedly Operation Zero), which publicly advertises itself as a reseller of exploits to foreign governments, including Russia.

The payoff

Williams received at least $1.3 million in cryptocurrency for his role in the scheme, which he attempted to launder and used to purchase high-value luxury items, including expensive watches and a Washington D.C. residence.

Williams used an alias, "John Taylor," and communicated with the buyer through encrypted channels to conceal his identity.

Williams pleads guilty

U.S. officials condemned Williams’ actions as driven purely by greed. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated, "Williams betrayed the United States and his employer by first stealing and then selling intelligence-related software to a foreign broker that touted its ties to Russia... imperiling our national security for the sake of personal gain."

Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of trade secrets.

What next?

Authorities have moved to seize his D.C. residence and all cryptocurrency and luxury items purchased with the proceeds of his crimes.

Williams is scheduled for sentencing on January 27, 2026, where prosecutors are recommending a prison term exceeding 10 years under federal guidelines.