Virginia Brothers Accused of Wiping 96 U.S. Government Databases
Face Federal Charges for Deleting Sensitive Records
Washington: Two men from Alexandria, Virginia, twin brothers Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, both 34, were arrested on federal charges alleging a coordinated conspiracy to destroy United States government databases, steal sensitive records, and attempt to conceal evidence shortly after their termination from a federal contractor. The indictment, returned on November 13, 2025, and unsealed upon arrest, provides a detailed account of the alleged criminal conduct spanning multiple agencies, data systems, and types of federal information.
Court filings indicate that the Akhter brothers had served as information technology contractors with privileged access to a federal contractor’s infrastructure supporting multiple government agencies. Prosecutors allege that, following the termination of their employment, both men exploited access privileges or alternative technical pathways to enter the company’s systems without authorisation. Their actions included issuing commands to lock databases to prevent others from modifying them, deleting records, stealing information, and destroying digital evidence.
The indictment states that on or about February 18, 2025, Muneeb Akhter deleted approximately 96 databases containing sensitive United States government information. Many of these databases store records related to the Freedom of Information Act matters, actively used by federal agencies to respond to public information requests. Other databases held investigative files of federal government components. Court documents further reveal that approximately one minute after deleting a Department of Homeland Security database, Muneeb Akhter queried an artificial intelligence tool, asking how to clear system logs following database deletions, highlighting the deliberate and technical nature of his actions.
Investigators also allege that the brothers discussed clearing their residence in anticipation of a law-enforcement search and that both wiped company-issued laptops before returning them to the contractor. Beyond data deletion, prosecutors state that Muneeb Akhter accessed the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission systems without authorisation after his termination and obtained records not permitted for his use. He is further charged with stealing data from an Internal Revenue Service virtual machine, including federal tax information and personally identifying information of at least 450 individuals. Sohaib Akhter is charged with trafficking a password capable of accessing a United States government computer system.
The arrests were jointly announced by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti said, “These defendants abused their positions as federal contractors to attack government databases and steal sensitive government information. Their actions jeopardised the security of government systems and disrupted agencies’ ability to serve the American people.” United States Attorney Lindsey Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia emphasised, “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.”
Federal Inspectors General also commented. Jennifer L. Fain, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Inspector General, said, “Destroying government records and data is unlawful and can jeopardise public safety and the integrity of agency operations. Such misuse and exploitation by government contractors will not be tolerated.” Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Department of Homeland Security Inspector General, noted, “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.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies, reflecting the cross-cutting impact of the alleged conduct. Lead agencies included the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations. Additional assistance was provided by the Offices of Inspector General of the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs; the Federal Reserve Board; the Environmental Protection Agency; the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the Small Business Administration; the International Development Finance Corporation; the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Chief Security Officer; United States Capitol Police; and Fairfax County Police Department. The scale of inter-agency involvement underscores both the number of systems affected and the broad spectrum of government programs potentially disrupted.
Prosecutors outlined the legal framework underpinning the charges. Muneeb Akhter faces counts of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and destroy records, two counts of computer fraud, theft of United States government records, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Each aggravated identity theft count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years. He faces a maximum of 45 years in prison on the other charges. Sohaib Akhter faces conspiracy to commit computer fraud and destroy records, and computer fraud related to password trafficking, with a maximum penalty of six years. The charges are framed under several federal statutes, including: the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 United States Code, Section 1030); theft of government property (18 United States Code, Section 641); destruction of government records (18 United States Code, Section 2071); aggravated identity theft (18 United States Code, Section 1028A); and conspiracy (18 United States Code, Section 371). Obstruction and evidence tampering statutes may also apply in cases involving log deletion or pre-search data wiping. This multi-statute approach ensures that prosecution addresses every dimension of unauthorised access, data deletion, information theft, and attempted concealment.
Public records and free county-level searches reveal very limited information about the brothers’ personal antecedents beyond age, residence, and employment as federal contractors. No verified parental, birth-origin, or immigration information was found through free, publicly accessible databases in Fairfax County or Virginia. All known personal data derives from official press releases, unsealed court filings, and prior federal proceedings.
The indictment is an allegation, and under United States law, Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case illustrates both the vulnerabilities inherent in contractor access to government systems and the comprehensive, multi-agency investigative and prosecutorial apparatus mobilised to protect sensitive federal data, ensure transparency, and enforce accountability.
– global bihari bureau
