What Happened to Sohaib and Muneeb Akhter?

The incident involving twin brothers Sohaib and Muneeb Akhter represents a significant insider threat event within the U.S. government contracting sphere. On February 18, 2025, minutes after being terminated from their roles at Opexus, a Washington D.C.-based company providing software and services to over 45 federal agencies, the brothers initiated a digital assault that resulted in the deletion of approximately 96 government databases. These databases contained critical information, including sensitive investigative documents and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records from agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Homeland Security, and the IRS.

The motivation for their actions was clear retaliation for their firing. The termination itself stemmed from the discovery of Sohaib Akhter's prior felony conviction from 2015, which Opexus admitted its background checks had failed to detect. This prior conviction involved wire fraud and hacking into U.S. State Department systems, for which both brothers had served prison sentences.

Key turning points in the incident include Muneeb Akhter's continued network access after the termination meeting, allowing him to execute commands to write-protect and delete databases over approximately 56 minutes. The brothers also attempted to cover their tracks, notably by asking an AI assistant how to clear system logs and by wiping company laptops. Beyond the database deletions, Muneeb Akhter also allegedly stole over 5,400 credentials and 1.2 million lines of personal data, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses, and password hashes.

The consequences have been severe. Sohaib Akhter was convicted by a federal jury on May 7, 2026, on charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, password trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He faces a maximum of 21 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for September 9, 2026. Muneeb Akhter faces even longer potential sentences, up to 45 years, for charges including computer fraud, destruction of records, aggravated identity theft, and theft of U.S. government records. While Muneeb reportedly signed a plea deal in April 2026, he is now attempting to have the charges dismissed.

As of May 14, 2026, Sohaib Akhter is awaiting sentencing, and Muneeb Akhter's legal status is somewhat in flux due to his attempt to dismiss charges despite a prior plea deal. The incident has highlighted significant vulnerabilities in contractor vetting processes and off-boarding procedures, prompting calls for stricter controls and awareness of how AI tools can be weaponized in insider attacks.