U.S. prosecutors have charged two brothers from Virginia with plotting to steal sensitive information and destroy government databases after they were fired from their contracting jobs.
The twin brothers, Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, both 34, were arrested on Wednesday. This is not their first encounter with federal investigators. In 2015, they were sentenced to several years in prison after admitting that they accessed U.S. State Department systems without permission and stole personal information from dozens of co-workers and a federal law enforcement agent who was looking into their activities. Muneeb had also hacked a private data aggregation company in 2013 and the website of a cosmetics company in 2014.
After completing their earlier prison sentences, both brothers returned to government contracting work. However, they were indicted again last month on new charges, including computer fraud, destruction of records, aggravated identity theft, and theft of government information. According to the Justice Department, after their employment was terminated, the brothers tried to damage both the contractor they worked for and its U.S. government clients. Prosecutors say they accessed systems without authorization, blocked others from modifying databases, deleted government records, stole sensitive information, and attempted to hide their actions.
Court documents reveal that in February 2025, Muneeb deleted around 96 databases containing U.S. government information. These records included Freedom of Information Act files and investigative documents from multiple federal agencies. Just one minute after deleting a Department of Homeland Security database, he reportedly asked an artificial intelligence tool for advice on clearing system logs to cover his tracks. Prosecutors also say the brothers wiped their company-issued laptops before returning them and talked about cleaning their home in case law enforcement searched.
The complaint further states that Muneeb stole IRS data from a virtual machine, which included tax information and personal details for at least 450 people. He also took Equal Employment Opportunity Commission records after his termination. Muneeb now faces charges that include conspiracy to commit computer fraud, destruction of records, theft of government data, and aggravated identity theft. The identity theft charges alone carry a mandatory minimum of two years each, while the remaining charges could bring his total maximum sentence to 45 years. His brother, Sohaib, is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and password trafficking, which carries a maximum penalty of six years if he is found guilty.
Officials say the brothers’ actions created serious risks for government systems and disrupted the work of multiple federal agencies. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti said the men abused their trusted positions and placed sensitive government information in jeopardy.
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