The US government has slammed an Australian man who is facing a maximum of 20 years behind bars in the United States after pleading guilty to selling his employer's trade secrets to a Russian broker.

Williams, 39, who worked as an intelligence insider and cybersecurity executive, pled guilty as he faced the US District Court in Washington DC on charges of stealing eight trade secrets, the ABC reported.

A trade secret is a term given for confidential information that may give companies an advantage over competitors.

Prosecutor Tejpal Chawla told the court the information Williams sold was supposed to be sold only to the US government and select allies.

He also said Williams "admitted his actions had affected intelligence communities in Australia and the United States" and that he had co

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