Two men from Virginia have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to destroy government databases managed by a federal contractor, according to the Department of Justice.
“These defendants abused their positions as federal contractors to attack government databases and steal sensitive government information. Their actions jeopardized the security of government systems and disrupted agencies’ ability to serve the American people,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division remains committed to investigating and prosecuting those who compromise sensitive information and threaten the integrity of government operations.”
U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia stated, “The malicious and intentional criminal actions allegedly committed by the defendants in this case undermine the ability of the United States to serve our citizens effectively and transparently. This office will hold accountable anyone who abuses the trust placed in them to safeguard vital government information, and we will prosecute those who deliberately compromise our data infrastructure.”
Jennifer L. Fain, Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), commented, “Destroying government records and data is unlawful and can jeopardize public safety and the integrity of agency operations. Such misuse and exploitation by government contractors will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of wrongdoing that pose a threat to federal agency programs and operations, and services they provide to the American people.”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., added, “Federal contractors who abuse their positions will be held accountable for their actions. The actions of individuals like Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter are threats to our national security. The Office of Inspector General remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring perpetrators to justice.”
According to court documents, brothers Muneeb Akhter and Sohaib Akhter from Alexandria were indicted on November 13 for conspiracy related to deleting databases containing U.S. government information after losing their jobs as federal contractors. Authorities allege that they accessed computers without authorization, issued commands blocking database modification before deletion, deleted records, stole information, and attempted to erase evidence.
One incident detailed in court filings alleges that on or about February 18, Muneeb Akhter deleted approximately 96 databases holding U.S. government data—some involving Freedom of Information Act matters handled by various agencies as well as sensitive investigative files.
It is further alleged that shortly after deleting a DHS database, Muneeb Akhter sought advice from an artificial intelligence tool on how best to clear system logs following database deletions.
Prosecutors also claim that both brothers discussed cleaning out their home ahead of a possible law enforcement search; company laptops were wiped before being returned.
Additional charges against Muneeb Akhter include unauthorized access resulting in obtaining Equal Employment Opportunity Commission data after his termination from employment with the contractor; he is also accused of stealing IRS-related information stored on a virtual machine—including personal identifiers for at least 450 individuals.
Sohaib Akhter faces accusations related specifically to trafficking a password capable of accessing computers used by or for the U.S. government.
Muneeb Akhter has been charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and destroy records, two counts each of computer fraud, theft of U.S. records, plus two counts aggravated identity theft; if convicted he could face up to 45 years in prison along with mandatory minimum sentences on certain charges. Sohaib Akhter faces similar conspiracy charges as well as computer fraud related specifically to password trafficking; if convicted he could receive up six years imprisonment.
Multiple agencies contributed assistance during this investigation including several Offices of Inspector General across different departments such as Agriculture, Education, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Reserve Board (FRB), Health & Human Services (HHS), Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Interior Department (DOI), International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Justice Department itself (DOJ OIG), Labor Department (DOL OIG), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC OIG), Small Business Administration (SBA OIG), Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Veterans Affairs OIG—as well as local police entities such as Fairfax County Police Department.
Trial Attorneys George Brown and Stefanie Schwartz from DOJ’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section are leading prosecution efforts alongside Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe from Virginia’s Eastern District.
The Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section investigates cybercrime domestically—and internationally—in partnership with other law enforcement bodies; since 2020 it has secured over 180 convictions in cybercrime cases along with recovery orders exceeding $350 million for victims.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
