Virginia twins arrested for allegedly deleting government databases

Two twin brothers from Virginia have been arrested for his or her alleged position in deleting authorities databases hosted by a federal authorities contractor, the Justice Division introduced Wednesday.

Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, each 34, had been indicted final month for allegedly conspiring to delete databases used to retailer U.S. authorities data, the DOJ mentioned in a information launch.

The arrests come after Bloomberg Information reported in Might how the brothers allegedly compromised information from a number of businesses, together with the IRS and the Normal Companies Administration.

The brothers additionally pleaded responsible in 2015 to federal conspiracy prices associated to information breaches on the State Division and a cosmetics firm.

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Sohaib Akhter (left) and his twin brother Muneeb. (Getty Photos)

Each served a number of years in jail earlier than touchdown jobs as engineers for Opexus, a federal contractor that helps course of U.S. authorities paperwork.

After being fired as federal contractors, the pair allegedly tried to hurt their former employer and its U.S. authorities shoppers by accessing computer systems with out authorization, issuing orders to cease others from modifying the databases earlier than they had been deleted, deleting databases, stealing data and destroying proof of their actions, the DOJ mentioned Wednesday within the newest case towards the 2 males.

In February, Muneeb Akhter deleted practically 100 databases of U.S. authorities data, with most of the databases containing Freedom of Info Act paperwork held by the federal authorities, in addition to delicate investigative information from elements of the federal authorities, the indictment alleges.

Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, each 34, had been indicted for allegedly conspiring to delete databases used to retailer U.S. authorities data. (iStock)

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A few minute after deleting a DHS database, Muneeb Akhter allegedly requested a man-made intelligence device the best way to clear system logs after deleting databases.

The brothers additionally talked about cleansing out their house forward of a police investigation. The corporate laptops utilized by the couple had been wiped earlier than being returned to the federal contractor.

Muneeb Akhter additionally allegedly obtained data from the U.S. Equal Employment Alternative Fee with out authorization after he was fired from the contractor. He’s additionally accused of stealing copies of IRS data saved on a digital machine, together with federal tax data and different figuring out data on at the least 450 folks.

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The brothers beforehand served jail sentences in reference to information breaches on the Ministry of International Affairs and a cosmetics firm. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg through Getty Photos)

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The indictment additionally accuses Sohaib Akhter of trafficking in a password that offered entry to a pc utilized by and for the U.S. authorities.

“These defendants abused their positions as federal contractors to assault authorities databases and steal delicate authorities data. Their actions compromised the safety of presidency programs and disrupted businesses’ capability to serve the American folks,” Performing Assistant Legal professional Normal Matthew R. Galeotti of the DOJ’s Legal Division mentioned in an announcement.

Muneeb Akhter is charged with conspiracy to commit laptop fraud and destroying paperwork, two counts of laptop fraud, theft of U.S. authorities paperwork and two counts of aggravated id theft. Sohaib Akhter is charged with conspiracy to commit laptop fraud and destruction of paperwork and laptop fraud.