The U.S. authorities has accused a former government at protection contractor L3Harris of stealing commerce secrets and techniques and promoting them to a purchaser in Russia, in response to courtroom paperwork seen by TechCrunch.
On October 14, the Division of Justice accused Peter Williams of stealing eight commerce secrets and techniques from two unnamed corporations. The DOJ made the allegation in a “prison data” doc, which, like an indictment, represents a proper accusation of alleged crimes.
The document doesn’t specify Williams’ relationship with the 2 corporations, specify the forms of commerce secrets and techniques, nor identify the alleged Russian purchaser.
TechCrunch has confirmed that the Williams talked about within the doc, which doesn’t specify the place he labored, is the previous normal supervisor at Trenchant, a division of L3Harris that develops hacking and surveillance instruments for Western governments, together with america.
Williams grew to become Trenchant’s normal supervisor on October 23, 2024, and he labored at Trenchant till August 21, 2025, per U.K. business records. Williams, a 39-year-old Australian citizen, resided in Washington D.C., in response to the courtroom doc.
4 former Trenchant workers had beforehand instructed TechCrunch that Williams, who was recognized inside the corporate as “Doogie,” had been arrested.
A spokesperson for the Justice Division confirmed to TechCrunch on Thursday that Williams shouldn’t be at present in federal custody.
The DOJ accused Williams of stealing seven commerce secrets and techniques between April 2022 and June 2025, and the eighth commerce secret between June and August 6, 2025.
In accordance with the prison data doc, the U.S. authorities alleged Williams made $1.3 million for the sale of the commerce secrets and techniques. For that purpose, the DOJ seeks to forfeit Williams’ property derived from his alleged crimes.
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A spokesperson for L3Harris didn’t reply to a request for remark by press time.
Williams’ legal professional John Rowley declined to remark when contacted by TechCrunch on Thursday.
The FBI, and the U.S. District Court docket for District of Columbia, the place Williams’ case is being prosecuted, didn’t reply to a number of requests for touch upon Thursday. (The U.S. authorities has been shut down since October 1 following a lapse in federal funding.)
When reached by TechCrunch in September relating to Williams, the FBI declined to remark. The Australian Alerts Directorate declined to remark as it is a matter for legislation enforcement.
An arraignment and plea settlement listening to is scheduled for October 29 in Washington D.C.
In 2018, L3Harris acquired Azimuth and Linchpin Labs, two sister startups that developed zero-days, which then merged to grow to be Trenchant. The 2 corporations bought hacking instruments to the so-called 5 Eyes, an intelligence sharing group made up of the governments of america, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Earlier this week TechCrunch exclusively reported, citing 4 former Trenchant workers, that the corporate was investigating a leak of its hacking instruments.
A former exploit developer at Trenchant instructed TechCrunch that they have been suspected of leaking the instruments, however denied any involvement.
The previous developer stated Trenchant designated him a scapegoat for the leaks of instruments able to exploiting vulnerabilities in Google Chrome, which he claimed wouldn’t have had entry to provided that he labored on creating iOS exploits. Three former workers stated that Trenchant compartmentalizes what workers get entry to relying on what platforms they work on.
Sources corroborated the exploit developer’s account, and stated that the corporate wrongly accused the previous worker.
It’s not instantly clear if this yr’s leak investigation at Trenchant is said to the federal accusation towards Williams.
