Ex-L3Harris exec jailed 7 years for selling exploits to Russia
The Register
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A former senior executive at L3Harris, Peter Williams, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for selling highly sensitive cyber tools to Russia while working under the radar as a defense contractor. During his tenure at Trenchant, a subdivision of L3Harris, Williams exploited his position by stealing eight cyber exploits over three years and selling them through encrypted channels to a Russian broker for cryptocurrency. These tools were meant exclusively for US national security but ended up in the hands of adversaries, causing an estimated $35 million loss to the United States and its allies. The court also ordered Williams to forfeit $1.3 million in cash, properties, luxury items, and cryptocurrency purchased with the proceeds from his illegal activities.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the broader implications for cyber espionage and national security. Williams admitted that he sold the exploits to Sergey Zelenyuk, a Russian cyber broker whose company, Operation Zero, was also sanctioned by the US Treasury alongside five other individuals and entities tied to Zelenyuk's operations. Operation Zero had been actively purchasing exploits since 2021, focusing on vulnerabilities in popular US software and encrypted messaging platforms, which could be exploited for malicious purposes such as ransomware attacks. The sanctions highlight a growing trend of foreign entities targeting American technology for profit and geopolitical gain.
This case underscores the dangers of cyber tools falling into the wrong hands, particularly when sold to adversaries like Russia. Williams' actions not only compromised national security but also jeopardized global intelligence operations, including those conducted by US and
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Originally published on The Register on 2/25/2026