Former Govt Contractor Sohaib Akhter Convicted for Wiping Dozens of Federal Databases

At a glance:

• 34-year-old Sohaib Akhter of Virginia convicted of conspiring to destroy dozens of government databases after being fired from federal contractor role.
• Akhter and twin brother Muneeb Akhter previously sentenced for unauthorized access to State Department systems and theft of personal information.
• The brothers wiped approximately 96 government databases in February 2025, including sensitive investigative documents and FOIA records.

Background and Conviction

A 34-year-old Virginia man, Sohaib Akhter, has been found guilty of conspiring to destroy dozens of government databases after losing his position as a federal contractor. The conviction comes after Akhter and his twin brother Muneeb Akhter, who were previously sentenced for unauthorized access to U.S. State Department systems and theft of personal information, were rehired by the same contractor in 2025.

The two brothers, who had been serving their sentences, were rehired by a company that worked with over 45 federal agencies and hosted government data on servers in Ashburn. However, their employment was terminated in February 2025 when the company discovered Sohaib's felony conviction during an online remote meeting. 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.

Further Charges and Actions

In November 2025, Muneeb and Sohaib were again charged with destruction of records, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud, and theft of government information. According to court documents, the two brothers wiped approximately 96 government databases within several hours in February 2025, including sensitive investigative documents from multiple federal agencies and Freedom of Information Act records. Prosecutors allege that they also ran commands to prevent others from modifying the targeted databases before deletion and destroyed evidence of their activities.

The brothers also 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 stated that Akhter participated in unauthorized access to protected computer systems, theft of credentials, and destruction of government data affecting numerous federal agencies. The deliberate deletion of databases containing sensitive government information and attempts to conceal criminal activity demonstrated a blatant disregard for the security and integrity of federal information systems.

Sentencing

Sohaib Akhter will be sentenced on September 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison. His brother, Muneeb Akhter, is also facing 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.