Alexandria Repeat Offender Now Faces 21 Years For Second Scheme To Tamper With Govt Data

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Sohaib Akhter, 34, of Alexandria, was convicted of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, password trafficking and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person by a federal jury on Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

In the May 7 release, the office says Akhter and his twin brother and co-defendant Muneeb Akhter worked for a Washington, DC, company that provided software products and services, including hosting data on servers in Ashburn, VA, to dozens of federal agencies. On February 1, 2025, Muneeb Akhter asked his brother to find the password of someone who had submitted a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Public Portal, which their employer maintained.

Sohaib provided the password, which his brother used to illegally access the private email account.

Both brothers had prior convictions for conspiring to access U.S. State Department computers without authorization, among a host of other computer fraud offenses. They were both fired on February 18, 2025, after their employer learned of those convictions.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office statement, immediately after being fired, both brothers retaliated against their employer by accessing computers without authorization and destroying nearly 100 databases storing government information.

While searching Sohaib’s cellphone, authorities discovered that he likely had obtained firearms, and searched his house in March 2025, finding nearly 400 rounds of ammunition. Later that month, Sohaib attempted to sell his seven firearms to a company in Farnham, VA. As a convicted felon, Sohaib Akhter was not allowed to own firearms.

Sohaib Akhter is scheduled to be sentenced in September and faces a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison.

Read more here.