U.s. Government Accuses Former L3harris Cyber Boss Of Stealing Trade Secrets

The U.S. authorities has accused a erstwhile executive astatine defense contractor L3Harris of stealing waste and acquisition secrets and trading them to a purchaser successful Russia, according to tribunal documents seen by TechCrunch. 

On October 14, nan Department of Justice accused Peter Williams of stealing 8 waste and acquisition secrets from 2 unnamed companies. The DOJ made nan allegation successful a “criminal information” document, which, like an indictment, represents a general accusation of alleged crimes.  

The document does not specify Williams’ narration pinch nan 2 companies, specify nan types of waste and acquisition secrets, nor sanction nan alleged Russian buyer. 

TechCrunch has confirmed that nan Williams mentioned successful nan document, which does not specify wherever he worked, is nan erstwhile wide head astatine Trenchant, a section of L3Harris that develops hacking and surveillance devices for Western governments, including nan United States.  

Williams became Trenchant’s wide head connected October 23, 2024, and he worked astatine Trenchant until August 21, 2025, per U.K. business records. Williams, a 39-year-old Australian citizen, resided successful Washington D.C., according to nan tribunal document.  

Four erstwhile Trenchant labor had previously told TechCrunch that Williams, who was known wrong nan institution arsenic “Doogie,” had been arrested.  

A spokesperson for nan Justice Department confirmed to TechCrunch connected Thursday that Williams is not presently successful national custody. 

The DOJ accused Williams of stealing 7 waste and acquisition secrets betwixt April 2022 and June 2025, and nan eighth waste and acquisition concealed betwixt June and August 6, 2025.

According to nan criminal accusation document, nan U.S. authorities alleged Williams made $1.3 cardinal for nan waste of nan waste and acquisition secrets. For that reason, nan DOJ seeks to forfeit Williams’ spot derived from his alleged crimes.  

A spokesperson for L3Harris did not respond to a petition for remark by property time.  

Williams’ lawyer John Rowley declined to remark erstwhile contacted by TechCrunch connected Thursday. 

The FBI, and nan U.S. District Court for District of Columbia, wherever Williams’ lawsuit is being prosecuted, did not respond to aggregate requests for remark connected Thursday. (The U.S. authorities has been unopen down since October 1 pursuing a lapse successful national funding.)  

When reached by TechCrunch successful September regarding Williams, nan FBI declined to comment. The Australian Signals Directorate declined to remark arsenic this is simply a matter for rule enforcement. 

An arraignment and plea statement proceeding is scheduled for October 29 successful Washington D.C. 

In 2018, L3Harris acquired Azimuth and Linchpin Labs, two sister startups that developed zero-days, which past merged to go Trenchant. The 2 companies sold hacking devices to nan alleged Five Eyes, an intelligence sharing group made up of nan governments of nan United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Earlier this week TechCrunch exclusively reported, citing 4 erstwhile Trenchant employees, that nan institution was investigating a leak of its hacking tools. 

A erstwhile utilization developer astatine Trenchant told TechCrunch that they were suspected of leaking nan tools, but denied immoderate involvement.  

The erstwhile developer said Trenchant designated him a scapegoat for nan leaks of devices tin of exploiting vulnerabilities successful Google Chrome, which he claimed would not person had entree to fixed that he worked connected processing iOS exploits. Three erstwhile labor said that Trenchant compartmentalizes what labor get entree to depending connected what platforms they activity on. 

Sources corroborated nan utilization developer’s account, and said that nan institution wrongly accused nan erstwhile employee.  

It’s not instantly clear if this year’s leak investigation astatine Trenchant is related to nan national accusation against Williams.