Australian man Peter Williams pleads guilty to stealing US trade secrets for Russia
Alexander Arnett, the FBI special agent in charge of the investigation, said Williams betrayed the United States and its allies. “The damage caused by their crimes is irreversible,” he said.
The Justice Department said each of the charges carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the financial gain or loss of the crime.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the secrets Williams stole “were likely used against numerous innocent victims.”Credit: access point
Former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said Williams’ conduct cost her Washington-based company more than $35 million and enabled unaffiliated foreign cyber actors to obtain sophisticated tools “that were likely used against numerous innocent victims.”
“These international cyber brokers are the next wave of international arms dealers and we remain vigilant about their activities,” Pirro said.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi also commented on the case, saying that cybercrime poses a serious danger to Americans. “America’s national security is NOT FOR SALE,” he said.
Neither the government nor court documents identify the company Williams worked for. However, Reuters and US technology publications reported that he was chief executive of L3Harris Trenchant until August this year.
The company develops spyware and hacking tools that support national security operations and says it has contracts with the US government. It is a subsidiary of defense contractor L3Harris, which declined to comment to Reuters.
According to US site TechCrunchTrenchant sells its products to government customers in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Williams’ lawyer John Rowley declined to comment on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT). According to technology magazine wiredThe plea agreement requires Williams to remain under house arrest for all but one hour a day. He is expected to be sentenced next year.
ABC and other publications, citing multiple sources, reported that Williams worked for the Australian Signals Directorate in the 2010s. ASD, which collects intelligence about foreign enemies, was contacted for comment.
Court documents show the US government plans to seize a long list of property from Williams, including a home in Washington, more than 20 watches, a light blue Louis Vuitton handbag, two Moncler jackets, assorted jewelry and all the currency in seven bank accounts, three of which are in Australia.
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