U.S. Department
of Justice
United States vs. Muneeb Akhter and Sohaib Akhter, Case Number: 1:25-CR-307-RDA
Muneeb Akhter and Sohaib Akhter are charged with conspiring to intentionally damage a protected computer without authorization and to destroy government records in connection with an alleged scheme to destroy databases hosted by Company-1, a federal contractor headquartered in Washington, D.C. Company-1 provided software and services to more than 45 U.S. federal agencies. Muneeb Akhter is also charged with accessing a computer without authorization and obtaining information from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and stealing Internal Revenue Service records. Muneeb Akhter allegedly engaged in a separate wire fraud scheme that involved the theft of credentials to a Company-1 application used by the EEOC, in which he allegedly fraudulently used the credentials to access email and other online accounts of individual victims to enrich himself. According to the indictment, Muneeb Akhter transferred approximately 5,400 usernames and passwords to a computer he controlled. Court documents also allege that he possessed approximately 1.2 million email addresses, first and last names, some middle initials, street addresses, phone numbers, and password hashes. Muneeb Akhter pleaded guilty to two counts of computer fraud and two counts of wire fraud on April 15, 2026.
Potential Victim
If you believe you are a potential victim of the above referenced conduct, please complete the following form "Potential Victim Form" (Select the hyperlink, a downloadable form will open) and submit by email to: Brittany.doherty@usdoj.gov with the title “Akhter”.
*Further information is provided below regarding victims’ rights and information.
Next Court Dates
December 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM – Sentencing Hearing at Alexandria Courtroom 1000, Judge Rossie Alston, Federal Courthouse, 401 Courthouse Sq, Alexandria VA.
Victim Rights and Information
Crime Victim’s Right Act (CVRA)
Pursuant to the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), 18 U.S.C. § 3771, the Department of Justice is required to provide notice to individuals who may have been harmed as a direct result of the criminal offenses of which a defendant has been convicted. In this context, “harmed” is defined broadly and is not limited to monetary loss. This office uses the Victim Notification System (VNS) and other methods, including web pages and press releases, to ensure potential victims receive timely notice of public events related to a case. For more information, go to Victims Rights Act.
Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (MVRA)
The Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (MVRA), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, governs restitution in this case. Restitution is a determination by the judge that a victim is entitled to monetary compensation for losses suffered as a direct result of a crime for which a defendant has been convicted. It is not a guarantee of payment. Under the MVRA, if a defendant is convicted of a crime carrying restitution as a penalty, the judge at sentencing determines who is a victim and in what amount they are entitled to restitution. In cases involving property crimes, including the fraud offenses with which the defendant is charged, restitution may generally only be awarded for the value of the property lost by the victim as a direct result of a defendant’s crime of conviction less the value of any property returned to the victim. Victims may also be entitled to restitution for expenses incurred while participating in the criminal investigation or prosecution or traveling to court proceedings for the case, such as lost income, childcare, transportation, and other expenses. Restitution is generally not available for medical care, pain and suffering, emotional distress, or lost income caused by the defendant’s conduct, except in the limited context described above.
Victim Notification System (VNS)
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia are committed to protecting the rights of crime victims and providing them with information necessary to exercise those rights. We invite those potential crime victims to contact the prosecution through our Victim/Witness Unit to ensure they are notified of important stages of the case. In addition, our Victim/Witness Unit can help make references to agencies that provide other services to witnesses. Those who successfully register as potential victims will have access to the Victim Notification System (VNS).
The VNS is designed to provide information regarding the case as it proceeds through the criminal justice system. Registered victims may obtain current information about this matter on the Internet at www.Notify.usdoj.gov or from the VNS Call Center at 1-866-DOJ-4YOU (1-866-365-4968) (TDD/TTY:1-866-228-4619; International 1-502-213-2767). In addition, they may use the Call Center or Internet to update their contact information and/or change their decision about participation in the notification program. To access VNS, a crime victim must receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) from our Victim/Witness Unit.
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