federal databases – A former federal contractor was found guilty of conspiring to destroy dozens of government databases after being fired, raising new alarms for data security.
A former federal contractor’s attempt to retaliate after losing his job has ended in a guilty verdict tied to the wiping of dozens of U.S. government databases.
According to Misryoum, the case involves Sohaib Akhter, a 34-year-old Virginia man, and his twin brother Muneeb Akhter.. Both were previously sentenced for unauthorized access to U.S.. State Department systems and for stealing personal information from coworkers and a law enforcement officer involved in the investigation.. After serving those earlier sentences. they were later rehired as government contractors through a firm that worked with many federal agencies and hosted government data in Ashburn.
The turning point came in February 2025. Misryoum reports. after the company ended their employment when it learned of Sohaib Akhter’s felony conviction.. The aftermath allegedly escalated quickly: prosecutors say that immediately after being fired during a remote meeting. the brothers accessed computers without authorization. altered databases. deleted records. and attempted to destroy evidence of what they had done.
This matters because contractor access is often designed with trust and safeguards in mind, and retaliation that moves from “unauthorized access” to large-scale data destruction can quickly undermine both operational continuity and public trust.
Misryoum says the alleged scope was substantial.. Court records described the wiping of roughly 96 government databases within hours. including investigative materials across multiple federal agencies and records tied to Freedom of Information Act requests.. Prosecutors also allege that after deleting a Department of Homeland Security database. the brothers asked an AI assistant how to clear system logs. hinting at a calculated effort to frustrate later review.
In this context. the alleged actions also included attempts to keep others from changing the targeted systems before deletion. along with behavior that prosecutors say was meant to conceal the activity.. Misryoum further notes that investigators allege the brothers discussed preparing for a potential law enforcement search and wiped company laptops after returning them to their employer.
The legal fallout continues.. Misryoum reports that Sohaib Akhter is scheduled for sentencing on September 9, 2026, and faces a maximum prison penalty of 21 years.. His brother. Muneeb Akhter. faces a higher maximum penalty. tied to additional charges including computer fraud. aggravated identity theft. and theft of government records.
Misryoum also highlights comments from an oversight official at the FDIC-OIG, who characterized the database deletions as deliberate and linked them to a broader failure to respect the security and integrity of federal information systems.
Ultimately, this case is a reminder that the cybersecurity risk isn’t only about external hackers. When insiders regain access after prior convictions, the resulting threat can be both technical and operational, spanning from credential misuse to attempts to erase traces.