A 34-year-old Virginia man, Sohaib Akhter, was found guilty of conspiring to destroy dozens of government databases after getting fired from his job as a federal contractor. This incident occurred after Akhter and his twin brother, Muneeb Akhter, were rehired as government contractors by a company that worked with more than 45 federal agencies and hosted government data on servers in Ashburn, despite their previous convictions.
In 2016, the Akhter brothers were sentenced to several years in prison after pleading guilty to accessing U.S. State Department systems without authorization and stealing the personal information of dozens of co-workers and a federal law enforcement agent who was investigating their crimes. After serving their sentences, they were rehired, but their employment was terminated again on February 18, 2025, when their employer discovered Sohaib Akhter's felony conviction.
Conspiracy and Destruction of Government Data
According to the Justice Department, immediately after being fired, the brothers sought to harm their employer and its U.S. government customers by accessing computers without authorization, write-protecting databases, deleting databases, and destroying evidence of their unlawful activities. In November 2025, Muneeb and Sohaib were charged with destruction of records, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud, and theft of government information.
Court documents revealed that the two brothers wiped roughly 96 government databases within several hours in February 2025, including sensitive investigative documents from multiple federal agencies and Freedom of Information Act records. They also allegedly asked an artificial intelligence assistant how to clear system logs after deleting a Department of Homeland Security database.
Methods Used to Conceal Their Activities
Prosecutors stated that the brothers ran commands to prevent others from modifying the targeted databases before deletion and destroyed evidence of their activities. Additionally, they discussed cleaning out their house in anticipation of a potential law enforcement search and wiped company laptops before returning them to their employer.
Inspector General Jennifer L. Fain of FDIC-OIG said,
As proven at trial, Akhter participated in the unauthorized access of protected computer systems, the theft of credentials, and the destruction of government data affecting numerous federal agencies. The deliberate deletion of databases containing sensitive government information and the subsequent attempts to conceal that criminal activity demonstrated a blatant disregard for the security and integrity of federal information systems.
Sentencing and Potential Penalties
Sohaib Akhter will be sentenced on September 9, 2026, and is facing a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison. His brother, Muneeb Akhter, also faces a maximum of 45 years for two counts of computer fraud, conspiring to commit computer fraud and destroy records, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and theft of U.S. government records.
The incident highlights the importance of thoroughly vetting and monitoring government contractors to prevent such malicious activities. The Akhter brothers' actions resulted in significant damage to government data and systems, emphasizing the need for robust security measures to protect sensitive information.
- The brothers' previous convictions did not prevent them from being rehired as government contractors.
- Their actions resulted in the destruction of 96 government databases, including sensitive investigative documents and Freedom of Information Act records.
- The brothers used various methods to conceal their activities, including running commands to prevent modification of targeted databases and destroying evidence.
The case serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with insider threats and the importance of implementing effective security controls to prevent such incidents.
Source: BleepingComputer