Spy Games Gone Wrong: Ex-Exec Faces Prison for Selling Trade Secrets to Russia!
Peter Williams, a former L3 Harris Trenchant exec, pleaded guilty to selling trade secrets worth $1.3M to Russia. The zero-day vulnerabilities sale earned him a house arrest, electronic monitoring, and a potential 9-year prison sentence. Williams reportedly signed deals with a Russian buyer using the alias John Taylor.
Hot Take:
Who knew that “From Russia with Love” was actually about trade secrets and high-stakes espionage? It seems our man Peter Williams, once an executive at a company dealing in zero-day vulnerabilities, decided that his true calling was playing spy games with Russian buyers. With the FBI hot on his tail and a plea deal in hand, Williams might be trading in his exotic watches for a rather more restrictive set of bracelets—prison time, that is. Maybe next time, he’ll stick to something less risky, like knitting or cat memes.
Key Points:
- Peter Williams, a former executive, pleaded guilty to selling US trade secrets to a Russian buyer.
- Williams faces 87 to 108 months in prison, up to $300,000 in fines, and restitution of $1.3 million.
- He previously worked at L3 Harris Trenchant and the Australian Signals Directorate.
- The FBI discovered the leak in 2024, leading to Williams’ confession.
- Williams’ assets, including luxury watches, are being seized as part of the prosecution.