Virginia Twins Arrested for Conspiring to Destroy Government Databases

Two Virginia men, brothers Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter of Alexandria, Virginia, were indicted on 13 November for conspiring to delete government databases hosted by a federal government contractor and related crimes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The indictment alleges that after their employment ended, the brothers accessed computers without authorisation, issued commands to prevent modifications to databases before deletion, deleted databases, stole information and destroyed evidence of their activities. It chair that on or about 18 February, Muneeb Akhter deleted approximately 96 databases storing U.S. government information, with many containing records related to Freedom of Information Act matters and sensitive investigative files.

It also states that about one minute after deleting a DHS database, Muneeb asked an artificial intelligence tool how to clear system logs, and that both men discussed cleaning out their house in anticipation of a law enforcement search while their company laptops were wiped. Sohaib Akhter is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and to destroy records and with password trafficking, with the case being investigated by the FDIC Office of Inspector General, DHS OIG, and Homeland Security Investigations.