A federal jury in the Eastern District of Virginia convicted Sohaib Akhter, 34, of Alexandria, Virginia, on May 7, 2026, on three counts: conspiracy to commit computer fraud, password trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person [1]. Akhter and his twin brother had worked for a software company that provided services to more than 45 federal agencies before both were terminated in February 2025 [1]. The criminal charges arose directly from conduct that followed their dismissal.
According to the Department of Justice, Akhter and his brother deleted approximately 96 government databases in the immediate aftermath of their firing [1]. The prosecution was handled by A. Tysen Duva of the DOJ Criminal Division [1]. The jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts [1].
Akhter faces a maximum of 21 years in prison across the convicted counts [1]. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2026, before the district court [1]. No co-defendant disposition was reported in the available source material for this proceeding.
No post-trial motions or appeal filings were reported as of the verdict date. The case record does not reflect a docket number or presiding judge in the available source material.