Australian cyber security expert Peter Williams accused of selling secrets to Russia for $2m
US authorities have seized an Australian executive's luxury watches and frozen bank accounts after he allegedly sold classified defence secrets to Russia.
An Australian cyber security executive has been accused of selling trade secrets to a Russian buyer for $US1.3m ($2m), as US authorities seized his house and extensive luxury watch collection and froze his bank accounts.
Peter Williams, 39, is alleged to have stolen eight trade secrets from two unnamed companies between April 2022 and August 2025 with the intention of selling them “to a buyer based in the Russian Federation”, according to an October 14 filing in the US District Court in Washington.
The filing does not mention where Mr Williams worked but British business records list him as a “general manager” at L3Harris Trenchant Pty Ltd from October 23, 2024, to when he resigned on August 21 this year. Australian company records also list him as a “director” of L3Harris Trenchant Pty Ltd, a role he ceased on August 12, just 13 days before papers were filed to shut the company down.
Trenchant, a subsidiary of defence contractor L3Harris, describes itself online as being “composed of experts from across the security research and intelligence communities”.
“We are a trusted, discreet partner furnishing security products, consultancy, training and integration services to allied governments, defence, security and law enforcement agencies,” the L3Harris website states.
US website TechCrunch, which broke the story, reported that Trenchant develops hacking tools for the Five Eyes security network, an intelligence sharing group between the governments of Australia, New Zealand, US, UK and Canada.
Earlier this year, the publication reported that Trenchant was investigating an alleged data leak, although it is not clear whether that is related to Mr Williams’ case.
Trenchant is the product of a 2018 merger between two information security companies: Linchpin Labs and Azimuth Security, the latter an Australian firm founded in 2008 by cyber security experts Mark Dowd and John McDonald.
According to filings with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, Mr Williams also ceased his directorship at L3Harris Azimuth Security Pty Ltd on August 12 this year.
It is understood he worked for a number of years in cyber security in Australia before moving to the US.
The Australian has approached L3Harris and a legal representative for Mr Williams for comment.
It is alleged Mr Williams made $US1.3m from selling the trade secrets.
US authorities have seized a house owned by Mr Williams in Washington DC, a collection of 22 luxury watches from brands including Longines, Rolex and Tag Heuer; a Louis Vuitton handbag; several items of jewellery; two Moncler jackets; and the funds held by Mr Williams in seven bank accounts. Three of the accounts are Australian.
Seven of the 22 watches are replicas, effectively meaning they are fake.
The British business record for Mr Williams lists his correspondence address as that belonging to the London headquarters of international law firm Reed Smith LLP.
Trenchant’s latest financial accounts, filed on UK Companies House, reveal it had a turnover of £12m ($24.7m) and a gross profit of £1.7m.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were “aware of a Department of Justice investigation in relation to an Australian in Washington DC in these circumstances”.
“We stand ready to offer consular assistance should it be requested,” they added.
An arraignment and plea agreement hearing for Mr William’s case was reportedly set for October 29.
