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OPEXUS said it ran seven-year background checks before hiring Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, but the checks did not uncover their earlier criminal convictions. The company later acknowledged that additional diligence should have been applied and said it extended its standard check period to ten years. These details come from OPEXUS statements reported by CyberScoop, not an independent audit of its screening process.
What did OPEXUS say its checks missed?
CyberScoop reported on Dec. 15, 2025, that OPEXUS said it conducted seven-year background checks before hiring the brothers in 2023 and 2024. The brothers had pleaded guilty in 2015 to earlier offenses, including wire fraud and a conspiracy involving hacking the State Department, according to a 2015 U.S. Department of Justice release.
OPEXUS characterized its checks as consistent with prevailing government and industry standards, but that is the company’s description—not a verified finding about a particular standard or the adequacy of its screening. Its spokesperson also said, “That said, we fully acknowledge that additional diligence should have been applied.”
The available account does not identify the screening vendor, databases searched, jurisdictions covered, identity-verification steps, or adjudication procedures. It therefore does not establish why the prior convictions were missed or whether the length of the search alone explains the failure.
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How did the reported screening period change?
| Period | What OPEXUS reported | What the figure does—and does not—show |
|---|---|---|
| Seven years | OPEXUS said this was the pre-hire background-check period used for the brothers hired in 2023 and 2024, as reported by CyberScoop in 2025. | The reported checks did not identify the brothers’ 2015 convictions. The account does not specify the searches or procedures performed. |
| Ten years | OPEXUS said it expanded its standard background check to ten years after the incident, according to CyberScoop’s 2025 report. | This is the company’s reported policy change; the account does not establish that a longer period by itself would prevent similar misses. |
A longer lookback period can be relevant, but the number of years does not describe the breadth or quality of a check. The public account does not say whether OPEXUS added new data sources, jurisdictions, or review steps alongside the reported extension.
What happened after the brothers were hired?
The screening issue was separate from a later access-control failure. CyberScoop reported that OPEXUS acknowledged its terminations were not handled appropriately and said it corrected processes intended to ensure departing employees lose access promptly. The spokesperson said, “As with the onboarding, the terminations were not handled in an appropriate manner.”
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The Department of Justice reported that approximately 96 databases containing government information were deleted over several hours after the brothers were fired. The information included case-management and FOIA response-processing software. DOJ described OPEXUS as a contractor serving more than 45 federal agencies; that scale does not establish that every agency was affected by the deletion.
What are the brothers’ later legal outcomes?
The legal outcomes are distinct. DOJ’s Eastern District of Virginia case page, updated July 10, 2026, says Muneeb Akhter pleaded guilty on April 15, 2026, to two computer-fraud counts and two wire-fraud counts. DOJ separately reported that a jury convicted Sohaib Akhter on May 7, 2026, of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, password trafficking, and prohibited-person firearm possession.
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The DOJ release said Sohaib’s sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 9, 2026. The available account does not establish whether that hearing occurred or what sentence, if any, was imposed. The 2025 indictment allegations should not be confused with these later plea and jury outcomes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did the Senate committee ask OPEXUS?
In a Feb. 9, 2026 letter, Senator Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate HELP Committee, sought answers about screening, audits of current employees, access controls, recovery, affected agencies, remediation, credit monitoring, and indemnification. The letter poses questions; it is not a company response or a finding that any particular remedy was absent. Cassidy wrote that it was important for those with access to the data to take their responsibility to protect public and private stakeholders seriously.
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For readers assessing the case, the public record described here supports a narrow conclusion: OPEXUS said its seven-year checks missed the brothers’ prior convictions, acknowledged that more diligence was needed, and reported changes to screening and termination processes. It does not independently establish the precise cause of the screening miss or answer the committee’s questions about the full scope of impact and remediation.
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