Australian man Peter Williams pleads guilty to stealing US trade secrets for Russia
The FBI acting special agent in charge of the investigation, Alexander Arnett, said Williams had betrayed the US and its allies. “The harm caused by his crimes cannot be undone,” he said.
Each of the charges carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $US250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain or loss of the offence, the Justice Department said.
US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the secrets Williams stole “were likely used against numerous unsuspecting victims”.Credit: AP
The US attorney for the District of Columbia, former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, said Williams’ conduct had cost his Washington-based company more than $US35 million and allowed non-aligned foreign cyber actors to obtain sophisticated tools “that were likely used against numerous unsuspecting victims”.
“These international cyber brokers are the next wave of international arms dealers and we continue to be vigilant about their activities,” Pirro said.
US Attorney-General Pam Bondi also commented on the case, saying cybercrime posed a serious danger to Americans. “America’s national security is NOT FOR SALE,” she said.
Neither the government nor the court documents identified the company where Williams worked. But Reuters and US technology publications have reported he was the general manager of L3Harris Trenchant until August this year.
The company develops spyware and hacking tools that support national security operations, and says it has US government contracts. It is a subsidiary of defence contractor L3Harris, which declined to comment to Reuters.
According to US site TechCrunch, Trenchant sells its products to the government customers in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which comprises Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the US.
Williams’ lawyer John Rowley declined to comment on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT). According to technology magazine Wired, the plea agreement requires Williams to remain under house arrest except for one hour a day. He is due for sentencing next year.
The ABC and other publications reported that Williams worked for the Australian Signals Directorate in the 2010s, citing multiple sources. The ASD, which collects intelligence about foreign adversaries, has been contacted for comment.
Court documents show the US government intends to seize a long list of property from Williams including a house in Washington, more than 20 watches, a light blue Louis Vuitton handbag, two Moncler jackets, several items of jewellery and all currency from seven bank accounts, including three in Australia.
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