The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed in October 2025 that Williams, an Australian former Air Force staffer, entered into written contracts with a Russia-based broker regarding cyber tools. The contracts reportedly involved the sale of eight safeguarded cyber-exploit components, with more than $1.26 million paid in crypto. The filings indicate Williams shifted the crypto through anonymised transactions before cashing out and spending more than $715,000 on vacations. The tools were made for use by the U.S. intelligence community and shared with Five Eyes partners, a security alliance comprising the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
A sentencing memo published earlier this month shows extra payments of up to $4 million guaranteed under current cooperation agreements, and indicates the companies involved have lost over $35 million. Prosecutors are seeking nine years in prison, $35 million in compulsory restitution, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Williams is due to be sentenced in Washington in the coming week. The case highlights crypto’s involvement in spying and national security prosecutions.
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