Two former federal contractors arrested for allegedly conspiring to destroy government databases

Two former federal contractors from Virginia have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to destroy government databases, according to the Justice Department.

Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, both 34, of Alexandria, Va., were arrested on Wednesday after being indicted on Nov. 13 for conspiring to delete databases used to store U.S. government information, the DOJ announced.

After both men were terminated from their employment, they allegedly sought to harm the company and its U.S. government customers by accessing computers without authorization, issuing commands to prevent others from modifying the databases before deletion, deleting databases, stealing information, and destroying evidence of their unlawful activities, according to court documents.

Per the indictment, on or about Feb. 18, Muneeb Akhter allegedly deleted approximately 96 databases storing U.S. government information. Many of the deleted databases contained records and documents related to Freedom of Information Act matters administered by federal government agencies, in addition to sensitive investigative files of federal government components.

Allegedly about a minute after deleting a Department of Homeland Security database, Muneeb Akhter asked an artificial intelligence tool how to clear system logs following the deletion of databases, according to court documents. The brothers also discussed cleaning out their house in anticipation of a law enforcement search, per the indictment. Their company laptops were wiped before being returned to the federal contractor.

After being fired from his job, Muneeb Akhter also allegedly obtained information from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission without authorization. Additionally, he is alleged to have stolen copies of IRS information stored on a virtual machine, including federal tax information and other identifying information of at least 450 individuals. His brother is also charged with trafficking in a password that could access a computer used by and for the U.S. government.

Muneeb Akhter is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and to destroy records, two counts of computer fraud, theft of U.S. government records, and two counts of aggravated identity theft, with a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count and a maximum penalty of 45 years for the remaining charges if convicted.

Sohaib Akhter is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and to destroy records and computer fraud via password trafficking, and facing a maximum penalty of six years in prison if convicted.

“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,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the DOJ’s Criminal Division said in a statement on Wednesday.