DOJ says Trenchant boss sold exploits to Russian broker capable of accessing 'millions of computers and devices' | TechCrunch

"The former boss of a U.S. maker of hacking and surveillance tools stole and sold technology that can hack millions of computers and people worldwide, U.S. prosecutors have confirmed for the first time. In October, Australian national Peter Williams, 39, pleaded guilty to selling eight hacking tools that he stole from his employer Trenchant, a division of the U.S. defense contractor L3Harris, which sells its surveillance-enabling tools to the U.S. government and its closest allies. Williams admitted to making more than $1.3 million in crypto from the sales between 2022 and 2025, per the Justice Department."

"In a court document published on Tuesday, federal prosecutors said Williams' actions "directly harmed" the U.S. intelligence community by selling the hacking tools to a Russian company, which counts the Russian government among its customers. While it was known that Williams sold Trenchant's exploits - software that takes advantage of flaws in other software usually to gain access to someone's computer or device - prosecutors now say that these eight tools could have been used to indiscriminately enable government surveillance, cybercrime, and ransomware attacks across the globe."

"This latest disclosure comes ahead of Williams' anticipated sentencing on February 24 in a Washington D.C. federal court. In its sentencing memorandum, which prosecutors use to persuade a court into handing down the maximum punishment, the Justice Department said that the exploits sold by Williams would have allowed the Russian broker and its customers to "potentially access millions of computers and devices around the world, including in the United States." Prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Williams to nine years in prison, with three years of supervised release, a mandatory restitution of $35 million, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Williams is expected to be deported to Australia after serving his sentence, the memorandum said."

Peter Williams, 39, pleaded guilty to stealing and selling eight hacking tools from Trenchant, a division of L3Harris. Williams admitted to receiving more than $1.3 million in cryptocurrency from sales between 2022 and 2025. Federal prosecutors said Williams sold the tools to a Russian company that serves the Russian government. Prosecutors stated the exploits could have enabled indiscriminate government surveillance, cybercrime, and ransomware attacks globally and potentially access millions of devices, including in the United States. Prosecutors seek a nine-year prison term, three years supervised release, $35 million restitution, and up to $250,000 in fines. Williams is expected to be deported after his sentence.

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