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Redazione RHC : 8 December 2025 16:22
The U.S. Department of Justice has accused twin brothers Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter of deleting 96 databases containing sensitive information, including investigative records and documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), after leaving their jobs at a federal government contractor and using artificial intelligence-based tools to cover their tracks.
According to investigators , the Akhters deliberately attacked the IT infrastructure of their former employer, which provided services to several U.S. government agencies. The brothers continued to access the systems even after leaving their jobs , blocked other users’ access, destroyed data, and attempted to cover their tracks. The indictment was issued on November 13.
The most serious episode, according to prosecutors, occurred on February 18.
That day, they allegedly deleted approximately 96 databases, including FOIA files and materials related to sensitive investigations. Just a minute after deleting one of the databases, belonging to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), investigators say, he accessed an artificial intelligence-based tool asking how to delete system logs . Investigators believe this is a clear sign of an attempt to conceal evidence .
In the correspondence included in the file, the brothers also discussed how to “clean up” their home in the event of a police visit. The company laptops, which they still had after their dismissal, were completely wiped clean before being returned to their employer.
Another charge against the Muneebs is that they illegally accessed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data. According to the Department of Justice, they allegedly accessed the federal tax records of at least 450 people . Sohaib, in turn, is accused of sharing a password to a government system, which in itself constitutes a federal crime .
They are therefore charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, destruction of documents, theft of government data, and aggravated identity theft. Together, they face up to 45 years in prison . Sohaib is charged with conspiracy, destruction of documents, and transmitting a password that could be used to hack a government computer; his charges carry a maximum sentence of up to six years.
The Justice Department said the brothers breached their trust by being on the wrong side of the fence, from contractors handling sensitive government data to people accused of undermining critical government processes. However, the Akhters remain technically innocent until proven guilty in court.
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