January 1, Twin Brothers Nabbed in Major Government Database Attack

Wyatt’s Take

• Twin brothers accused of wiping out key government data.
• Breach hit sensitive files, including tax records and investigations.
• Justice Department warns this jeopardized public safety.

Federal authorities arrested twin brothers from Virginia for their roles in destroying government databases managed by a contractor. The Justice Department revealed that Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter targeted databases used for storing government information.

Both men worked for Opexus, which processed records for agencies like the IRS and GSA. After losing their jobs, they are accused of accessing databases without permission, deleting information, stealing records, and wiping traces of their actions. In one case, almost 100 databases with sensitive files and Freedom of Information Act records were erased.

“These defendants abused their positions as federal contractors to attack government databases and steal sensitive government information. Their actions jeopardized the security of government systems and disrupted agencies’ ability to serve the American people.”

The Akhter brothers once pled guilty to earlier federal data breach charges. After losing their jobs, they reportedly discussed hiding evidence in case of a police raid. Muneeb Akhter also collected personal and tax data from hundreds after access should have been cut off, and even tried to learn online how to hide his tracks.

The Justice Department charges include computer fraud, theft of government records, destroying evidence, and identity theft. Authorities say these kinds of attacks put the security of real Americans at risk.

If the government can’t keep its files safe, regular folks suffer the fallout. Tell us your thoughts, and stay tuned for real news that cuts through the noise.

Wyatt Matters

When insiders turn on the folks they serve, trust in the system takes a hit. Americans deserve secure, honest management of their hard-earned records—no exceptions.

Read the full report here